Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-26

The npase Of grsttude for kind services often forces
an expression OF for the loss Of benefsctor II
is duty which 9 grateful heart feels constrained to
dscharge-an oblg more sacred than imposes the
payment Of just debt to the living.
This the spirit which mpcls The writer TO the per-
torrance Of this the dissg ree.ble duty Of his life
And in doing he feels that he will best illustrate
the dtinguis hing traits OF the deceased BY showing
the extent Of thet exercise in his own behalf The mo-
tive of gratitude and che obligation for its expression
will thereby be discovered.
Miss MATILDA hcADAn the subject Of this obituary,
combined in the estimation Of the writer as WELL be
feels assured, "a of al who knew her more amiabie
traits Of character than often fall TO the lot Of hunsa
beings She the very type of gentleness, the very
impersonation Of smability The writer Of this, often
hayward indscree unfortunate, was by reason Of the
fact little less perhaps than his peculiar. relations y the
esteemed family of which she was bright an orna
ment the peculiar object of her charitable concern
When he fell she was present like guardian ange'
to nurture console and encourage him. Not word OF
censure or rebuke ever escaped her lips With tact
that is instructive in the smisbe and gentle OF her SEX
she employed the irresistible weapons OF Kindness sua
yity and gentleness And, heavens, how potent were
they The CALLING consciousness of having abused 80
much goodness 80 much unseash zeal and charity wss
an of the feeling Of for relapse into
vice so intense so bitter to make life burdensome-
The very smile of amisbity gentleness and JOY that
welcomed the culprit prodgs literally ovepow-
erng He covered beneath the angelic censure. BE felt
that his manhood merged, nay submerged in the
predominant habit which her Jealous effort to re-
form Her zeal to that end relaxed. her cona.
dence in her own powers Of were 80 great
that she seemed to believe nothing in the shape of moral
reform to be impossible to her. All this must needs be
the offspring of sublime charity, for nothing else could
animate ar such unwearness in doing good despite
the depressing influences of frequent painful physical
sufferinQs Oh how beautifully the power Of that
great virtue illustrated In her.. The body, as it were.
moved ntuitvey in the path Of beneyolence uneer its
influence The tongue employed only to encourage
and praise and to arouse hope and confidence In Gods
mercy.
oentmes did she take the writer Of this by the hand
like St. Monique her ST. Augustine pardon the com
psrsonl and pointing to Heaven bid him trust In Gods
mercy, which was unbounded- She taught him beau
tful prayers presented him pious books for his instruc
ton and led him by the hand to his religious duties
often involuntarily be it said to his soow And then
what degree Of satisfaction of joy beamed upon that
angelic countenance to End herself successful
in the agency of reform.
Thus il was that she behaved towards all who hap
pened within the sphere of her knowledge scquaih
lance and who in need of that salutary influence
which proceeds from the pure motive Of charity She
could by her genial influence, in the opinion Of the
writer almost make Nero Saint Paul Charles the
Second an Aristotle or Cesar. The deprsvty that
could not yield to her gentle influence would be too
deep and abiding to admit the light OF hope The in
teect that could not deyelope under the npraon Of
her sautary lessons and wise counses too mesgre
too contracted to compass the ordinary, commonplace
incidents Of every day life She the embodiment Of
every virtue that could give peculiar efficiency to
woman's noble mission; the type Of excellence, the
impersonaton of charity the bright example of pure
and unsefsh re al in doing good.
Her talent and accomplishments were possible com
nensurate with these virtues. She executed q work in
tapestry Joseph interpreting Pharoahs dream-which
BY many skilled artists was at first sight mistaken for
painting 1t took the first premium both at the Agricul
tura Fair and the Fair of the Mechanics Institute held
in this city and was honored by elaborate descriptive
notice in the Wing of that day. Her "sea Storms
magnificent piece Of embrodery-was the theme OF gen
eral admiration while on exh bon on these occasions
and like the former, awarded the first premium IN
that department. Her paintings would adorn the finest
gallery in the land, and her Wax works lend an air Of
enchs ntment to the drswingroom Of an Emperor Her
talent in all other respects was in keeping with these
mpshments while her modesty was such 90 to en-
nance the merit Of every elegant attribute which she
possessed.
But must stop The tears are flowing too rapidly TO
admit OF any further comments upon the virtues Of
friend 30 dear, so abiding. REQUIEscAT rs PACE.