Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-04-26

. DtOthVt DCuatOts CNU UtNtt TFWdTu yVfl /,
but you know whore your reward lies. You
have long been a professor OF the religion
Of the Gospel; You know what il is TO en-
Joy its consultations in sickness and health.
The mercy Of God has been very great to
me in this sickness. have so many kind
friends. 50 many angelic ministers all around
me 1t seems as though a company OF
angels we're all around me, and lowering
over me TO bear up sinking spirit from its
mortality" Then, after pause, as If re.
viewing his past life and nndesvoring to re.
call its conflicts, he said, II have been try
ing to call to mind IL there was a human
being on earth to whom have done wrong
or injury. II there is | pray God to for
give me. And on another occasion during
the day he said, IF have an enemy in
the world thank God do not know it,"
When Secretary Stanton entered the
room, some time about midnight, he seemed
very much gratifed, and said, you are
kind to visit me, Mr. Stanton. am here
yet living and dying. / have no acute pain.
no severe distress. but general sinking Of
| the system the constitution breaking up I.
but | am surrounded by 30 many kind
! friends. they seem TO bear me up as on
angels wings" The Secretary said to the
Senator, The President intended to come
with me, but was unavoidably prevented by
the pressure of business II he could get
of he would call during the day, and d.
rected me to express his kindest regards and
! sympathies." On the Secretary remark
ing, That we are all iu Gods hands," he
responded. 20, yes and he is dealing with
me 10 great mercy. The Lord reigns, let
the earth rejoice and well may God reign.
and well may the earth rejoice that he does
reign, That there is God who reigns over
all, there can be no manner of doubt We
do not come into this world by chance. We
are not creatures of accident. We have
been born under a experimenting Provi-
dence, and are candidates for certain i'm
mortality" Then pausing again, as if CON
tomplatine his approaching departure, he
said, "When leave this place 1 wish no
parade. no ostentatious demonstrations to
be made only the ordinary proceedings
which custom aud propriety impose; and
then | desire to be horne to my friends and
home in Rutland, Vermont, and laid among
the people who have been so faithful to me;
more faithful, fear, than have been to
! them" Turning, he saw Mrs. Foot weep
| ing at tho foot OF the bed, with Mrs Brown
ing at her side. This seemed to pain him
most deeply. and he said, pointing to his
| wife, There is my great grief. My beloved
wife! To part from her is like tearing the
| silver cord asunder" On being approach
ed by these ladies', Mrs, Browning remark ed
that they had been permitted to enjoy each
others society long on earth, and they in
dulged the hope that this society would be
resumed again in heaven. "Oh, yes," he
answered, I'VE have been in family long
held together, and memory is full of tender
visions Of the past. God grant they may
be renewed in another and better world"
| AT this time Senator Fessenden approach
ed him, to whom be cordially stretched out
his hand and said, MY dear friend Fessen-
den. the man by whose side | have sat SO
long, whom | have remarked is the model
of statesman, and parliamentary lead.r,
! on whom have leaned, and to whom |
have looked more than to any other living
man tor guidance in public affairs the grief
feel is that the silver cord which has long
bound us together, must now be severed. =
But, my dear Fessenden, if there is mem
ory after death, that memory will be active,
and shall call to mind the whole of our in
tercourse on earth" The Senator thus ad-
dressed, too much affected to reply in words,
stopped over and kissed the brow of his dy-
ing friend, and turned away liz silence.
To Senator Brown, who came in soon
alter, he said, Il am glad to see you, my
dear associate. You know what it is to be
disciple of Christ. hope we shall meet
in heaven. This world is poor place for
saint or sinner to dwell in forever. Its
scenes are passing awav its fashion perishes;
there is nothing steadfast, nothing here. "
AT about half'past two o'clock, all being
prepared by his desire. and with the consent
OF his physician, who was indefatigable ID
attending to every wish, in the presence OF
his family and few Christian friends, he
signi6ed his public profession Of faith in
Christ by receiving the symbols of the Lord s
Supper, and joining, for the first and last
time on earth, in that communion which all
Gods children hope to renew in heaven. On
receiving the bread into his mouth he ut
tered in low bit solemn and reverential
manner these words: This bread is the
symbol of the broken body of Christ Jesus,
through whom alone | hope for the mercy of
God and the gift ofeternal life." This most
affecting and solemn scene, only to be appre-
ciated and understood by those who have
known xperimentally the life which it out,
wardly sets forth, was concluded by singing
the following hymn, during which his soul
seemed borne away, indeed, as on angels
wings:
How firm foundation, ye saints Of the Lord.
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!n etc.
After this he seemed to be satisfied, and
only awaited the appointed hour of depart
ure.
To Mr.. Seward, Secretary of State, who
visited him in the after part of the day, he
addressed similar words of tenderness, and
exchanged with him the affectiOuate regards
Of their former friendliness. The day set,
the night wore on, the morning came again,
and all this while he lay peacefully, attend
ed by gentle women-his kindred-whom
he described repeatedly as ministering
angels, sent to soothe aud comfort him, and
to make light his pathway to the tomb.
At about o'clock ON the morning of We'd
nesday, March 2Sth, it was evident that he
sould not much longer survive. Then, as if
admonished by some invisible attendant
that his moments were few, he signifed his
dosire to see once more the light of the sun
in heaven, and the Capitol on which it shone,
and where he had SO long served the people
of his State and country, and where his ssso-
ciates would soon again assemble. They
lifted him up; but his eye was already dim.
He sank back upon his pillow. Seeing that
his time was at hand, the words Of the 23d
Psalm were then read, aud solemn prayer
went up from the lips Of one Of the dearest
TO him ON earth. st go
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