New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-13

committed 10 me; have but half used them gave
him nOseQav of tea roses and lilies Of the valley, and
there came over his face the most beautiful smile ever
cav on a human cOuntenancc. wonder now any one
have spoken Of Lis face as pnin or SoeIatlc. 10
ii the nobes most loyeable face IN the world
lie said afteIward, Do not speak Of what You feel
for 1t makes IRE too unhappy TO leave you" Then
suddenly with wonder iul eiot and power, he began
discussing italian llteraurctheD the N0Ners Of Amer
lea saw he had talked enough. and tried TO 60 away
II seems my visit did him no Llrn lie spoke OF ME
oftcrward very tcndcry Mrs. Parker sd.d, and told
her she must see me every day le could not sse NE
Ofton; il great pleasure; but il made his heart
swell too high He had good night, and this morning
again wished TO me. Alas he wandered in mind
nearly all the time, only his face lighted up before at
the sight Of the lles Of the valley ic lad sGiI he
liked them bcst) lie asked what day il was. saic
at is Sunday-a blessed day - True it is a blessed
day. said he, suddenly seriously "wben one has got
over the superstition OF t He then seemed 10 fall off
into vague but not painful dreams and Ia Doe so /
just kissed his hand gently and left him without speak
ing Ny impression is that the end viii not be for some
DAYS perhaps "A week, but that his thoughts will never
do more than show some faint rays OF light again.
few days were passed in great weakness, but
without suffering. The mind made no effort; all
the faculties and senses were sunk in dreamy repoSe
as the body gently parted with its little residue OF
life. On the 10th of May, he lay motionless, with
innocent look, as of child just falling into SUM-
Der. After the great soul had gone to aho'hcr
ministry, the semblance of sleep did not fade from
the face. The checks were flushed, the white fdii
beard lay over the thin lips and the head fell little
10 one side beneath garland Of the roses OF flor-
ence which had been brought to his pillow.
The aspect, as we have seen, in which Theodore
Parker was most conspicuousy presented before tue
public was that of the strenuous, aggressive chaih-
pion OF ideas and principles, the CONVICTION Oh
whose truth was incorporated with the very npeiS
of his being. But there were other phases OF ms
life deeply impressed on the memory OF those VINO
enioyed his private intimacy and confidence, when
were equally Characteristic OF his nature. WitAa
frankncss of manner, which would sometimes sp-
pear abrupt or even harsh TO a stranger, ne was
man of singular lnodesty, free from the slightest
faint of vanity or sclf-conceit or resoiute ana
stern exterior, he possessed an almost woul"hly
softncss of heart. No man was more easily ho'eu
TO tears, not from personal gnefs, bui IRON sy iPa-
thy with the SORROWS Of others, or from the reci'ai
of q brave or lovely act. He loved MS iriehus
with "A generous tenderness and devotion which are
rarely found in the intercourse between man and
man. His tastes inclined him to the quiet joys OF
domestic life to the charms Of literary research emo
culture to the society Of men of wit ana Drllilan'
parts: but 10 such onticcnents nc could no' saeIi
fee the mission which he felt he lad to iuihd. h'
vas the very soul Of justice and honor paSe u
unworthy deed was as foreign TO bis nature as L
that of AN angel. With all his powers oil sarcasm
his terrible sense Of the ludicrous and ms scanning
Indignation at wrong perfectly inianiiie sipiiei'
and purity attended him through liie He delighted
lin the company of little children, because he neYe
ceased TO be a little child himself.
His iov in nature betrayed the passion oil lover
He used to anticipate his summer vacations "hel
for several years the family returned TO the oi'
house in the country with enthusiastic glee. Ever.
sprine he began 20 calculate the time for the bios
,ou,ing of the shrubs and trees, ind 10 tell owe
what he should be too late for and what lac shoui
lind. II Was sore disappointment 10 nun II i
did not get out Of town in season for tie apple pio
SONS. He loved TO revisit his GvoTiie weiks on
secluded spots FOX prayer al! meditation, and ate
he had ceased to spend the summer in has forin'
q rural home, nc made occasional pilglmages
( them. as TO shrine. lis knowledge Of the howe
h and trees was extensive. He knew where TO ma Z
!, the lowly beauties OF the Ncw-England woods al
r meadows. lie took pleasure in animals OF eve
description and was never tired OF watching thei
a Bears were his especial delights he called the
/ great humorous children, with wary Scotch vel
, His scholarly tastes were "a remarkable as If /
r had passed his whole life among books. The fourt
{ story of his house in Boston was fitted up for
study. The wells were lined with shelves Of IA
simplest description, without moulding or orni
mcut, 80 as TO save every inch Of space for books
, These shelves gradually cTept over the door, Il.
III. l.: ,,s, fra N IN
adjoining rooms, and finally stepped boldly dow
{ tho stairs one flight ut time, for three flights
eooniziny every room by the way, inc!udin
the large parlor in The second story, and i'nail
paused only az the dining room close to the iron
door. The bathing room, the closets, the att
apartments were deluged with intrusive volumes
Unbound magazines and pamphlets lay in chests O
drawers down stairs miscelaneous,Anatter wa
sorted in properly labeled boxes cupboards an
rccesscs we're stuffed ful. In the center of til
study door rose two or three ediices Ut shelves f
receive the surplus which could fluid 10 other place
No house WAS ever so adorned from BASEMENT t
attic In the Indulgence Of his taste for rare book
and curious editions he chiefly sought those Bhcl
were once vitality connected with some human
thought. with the ignorance, vice and passion Of al
epoch. with the growth Of law, or religion, o
knowledge of tho world. Some book always Ia.
upon his desk IN ill up tho pauses of writing, o
vacant moments in the day. His fayorte season
for study was those starlt hours, after the grca
city has roared and vexed itself 10 sleep, and tn
quiet breathing of oll things in the Fathers house
like slow pendulum, tells the soul IN conspirac.
/ With truth that its time has come"
The friends of Theodore Parker, numbering
ii.r,.. .nj vrid,v scattered company in every pOr