New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-22
A Good Life.

Should our neurology be confined to men
alone whom special gift or service has invested
with certain amount Of fame The contemplation of
distinguished lives not always eleyating or encourage
ing to the great of undstinguished men; but We
can never be too often presented with the record Of
honesty that never sweryed of simple duties always
faithfully performed of steadfast principle that never
excluded charity, and Of Christian love that never
grew cold. These qualities always centered In tho
peaceful complete and harmonious life upon which 1
desire to lay one leaf of remembrance.
On the 9th Of March. upon bis farm. near Kenneth
SQUARE Pennsylvania, JOHN AGNEw died On the 10th
he was buried in the cemetery al Longwood, beside
beloved son and daughter. lie was a simple farmer.
and knew other world but that of the quiet commu.
ny in which the - years OF his life were spent. In
that world. however. he was permanent moral power
Never asserting himself always shrinking from promi'
nenee above bis neigkbors, In any form, few could
guess the full influence Of his quiet example the wide.
warm atmosphere of his tender humanity until be was
suddenly called away from among them. With good
intellectual powers. and fresh, active inquiring
shirt which kept pace with all the moral and
poitieo Developments of his time bis distinctive quail
ties were nevertheless his natural reetude and IN
conscious goddess. lie protested virtue. but
ras il.
One of the very first TO join the antSlavery move
ment in the days of Benjamin Lurdy. and mistaken In
his adherence during the time Of trial. no bitterness
toward even its feroest enemies ever alloyea his prin-
eipe One Of tie very first ALSO TO enlist IN the canss
Of temperapce he stood firm amid all changes of SEN
tment neither Joining in tie oatcry against individuals
who stood aloof from the movements. nor expressing
seyere feeling than pity for the excuses it endeavored
70 heal The too common fanl: OF protested Reiormers
that OF charging moral delinquency upon those who
Al mot accent their yiewswas never his Tie sense OF
his human brotherhood was too deep and strong-his
nature was too simply pure and modest to claim any
moral ascendancy over his fellow-men. He was not
rich enough to give great deal Of money but he gave.
on every side help, counsel. encouragement. No man
ever quarreled with him; no men ever doubted his
word; no man ever wished him an injury.
During the most stringent rule Of the Fugitive Slave
law he never failed to speed the escaping slave on his
Northward way Yet. while stanohly demanding Dofv
Liberty and Right for the Colored Race. he avoided
that other fault Of overlooking their present snc,,s
development and fattering them with hopes OF SOFA
equality. by them he was universally mourned; lucy
came from long distances to look upon his Iens' ans
IL would have given an added happiness 10 nts
to have known how many OF them sorro"ed oe''ae IA"
grave. x... ,r- f,,h q.
the natural elements OF Good IN Man hs sphere wss
limited and secluded, but he filed II hovy.
and with a light that shah finger long Denna NM ~
was ambitious only 10 be true he was proud only 70 %
beloved. Therein he found the secret o. Perps'us'
youth. During the thirty years rSw Ssx older
heart or bra,n He bore sosrows with sweet resg.
nation troubles with serene patience ana toek me
sir, at low ~ special bounty. Hence his life wac
Sanp . n "A good and grief for his death h almost
taken away because 1t so beautifully rounded oess's
ful existence ~~~
..Sreh20 IsyA