The weekly union record., 1866-01-06
An Affecting Spectacle.

The following interesting article, from
the pen of Rev. DR.. Todd, of Pittsfield,
refers to the family of the venerable
Rev. DR.. Field, of Stockbridge, Berk-
shire county, Massachusetts: "At the
gateway of one of our beautiful rural
cemeteries, large funeral was just
entering, as our attention was called to
very remarkable sight. The bier was
resting on the shoulders of four tall.
noble looking men, in the prime of life.
One of these bearers was Judge on the
Bench of the Supreme Court of the
nation. A second was one Of the most
eminent and accomplished lawyers of
whom this or any other country can
boast. A third was a very distinguished
divine, whose pen is a great power.
And the fourth was the President of the
Senate of his State. And these remark
able men were brothers! They stood
strong in life, but were bowed and silent
and solemn, as if the bier was too heavy
for their strength. Very slowly and
carefully they trod, as if the sleeper
should not feel the motion. And who
was on the bier, so CAREFUL y and tenderly
borne? 1t acas hsir oacn mother !!
Never did I see grief more reverent,
or respect more profound. 1t seemed
to me that the mothers cold heart must
also throb In the coffin. A nobler sight,
or a more beautiful tribute of love, |
never saw. They were all, doubtless,
going back in memory to their early
childhood, and to their loving care of
this best of all earthly friends. They
we'll knew that they, the sons of poor
village pastor, could never have been
trained, and educated, and fitted to
occupy their stations, without very
extraordinary mother. They we'll knew
that they owed more to her than to all
other human agencies. No shoulders
but theirs must bear the precious dust
to the graveyard no hands but theirs
must deposit it in its last resting place!
That body had been inhabited by one
of the sweetest, most cheerful and brill
liant minds that ever inhabited an
earthly tabernacle. 1t had long, too,
been the temple of the Holy Ghost.
What that lovely woman had done to
make her husbands ministry useful and
profitable what she had done in train
ing daughters that are ornaments to
their sex; what she had done to make
these distinguished men what they are
who can tell? What has not such a
mother accomplished who has given such
an influence to the world! / never see
one of these sons, but my thoughts 60
back to the home of their childhood !;
and l can hardly keep my eyes from
filing with tears as l think of that
mother. How many men start upon the
stage of life, and feel they are great,
and are filling great spheres Of useful
ness, who are really dwarfs in compari-
son with such character. When that
mother went down to the very brink of
the grave, that she might bring up life,
as her children were born, as she toiled,
unseen and unpraised, through all their
training, what an influence was she
preparing to leave upon the world after
she should be numbered with the dead
We may develop ourselves, and think
we have done we'll if We can achieve
anything in life, when, most likely, if
anything valeable in us is developed, we
owe it chiefly to our patient, meek, un-
noticed mother. She forms the character
which We develop. And it is much
owing to ignorance of the laws of infu-
ence that prevents the mother from
receiving that love and respect she
deserves. Heaven will be just where
we are not; and | can find no words in
which to express my appreciation OF
such a friend. Some few, who have