New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-03
ALBERT d. RICHARDSON.
OBITUARY.

not one has been read by sadder eyes, not one has
smitten SO many loving hearts, his which to-
day gives excuse to these brief lines. Two
things about the man were remarkable that one
might almost say they tcere the man-his vitality
and his friendliness.
No man was ever more alive than he. IL was
not only in that strong principle of life which had
carried him safe through peril after peril that
would have killed any other man, and which
kept the calm pulse beating for days after his
physicians had given up all hope of saving him; it
was not only in that joy of existence which seemed
always to possess him; it in his wonderful buoy
RDcy and brightness and confidence i'll time and IN
circumstance, in his tirelessness, his incapabilty
Of Encouragement, his endless and delighted
labor over whatever work he had in hand,
IN his energetic belief that he could not
only conquer the world for himself, but
Cor everybody he knew, if everybody would but &C
pept his way-that this wondrOus vitality most dis
played itself.
And for his friendliness what shall be said of that
Always it went out to meet you afar off. Always it
came with water for your feet and spikenard for
your head. He was not rich, but what he had was
his friends as fully as it was his And greater
than the hospitality of his roof his board was the
hospitality of his soul to his friends needs.
And his friend was not alone the man whom he
knew and honored 1t was any lonely or miserable
OF neglected or ill-used soul who needed his KIND
ness. There was sin which his infinite charity
could not believe to have had some palliation that
did not to view error for which his toIera-
ton had not excuse; no offense against hlnseH
which he did not freely and fully forgive.
These very qualities which made 1T impossible
not to love him, not seldom betrayed him
into grave errors. HIS judgment was often
IN fault HIS very eagerness and force be-
came sometimes an obstinacy, an incapability
of seeing a question from any other point
of view than that which seemed TO him best, head
long and foolish way of doing things, which was
sften very irritating. His very friendliness made
sad mistakes and sometimes harmed more than it
helped. His nearest associates had many an annoy
ance TO forgive him over and over again. but 1t is
their best comfort to remember, now that he can
explain no act of his that they had only annOyances
toforgve-neyer any meanness, never any cowardlce'
never any cruelty any deceit, never any envy
nor malice nor uncharitableness.
OF the terrible circumstances of the last week II
is not best, perhaps, to speak at length. For the
man who took this brave young life to satisfy IAN
cied wrong he who is gone has never had one bitter
word He believed that when the truth was known
he should stand wthou: condemnation, and he
never shrank from the truth But it is meet to say
that during this endless week of agony of PAIN and
slow starvation the patience, and endurance, and
tireless care for others which had gone with him
always the serene and sober trust in the perfect life
after this imperfect, which had been the rea-
son of his cheerful earthly days. grew
ever stronger While he had consciousness he
thought only of Others and the last word he uttered
was the name of friend. friend who had been
BOby loyal indeed, through good report and Ill re-
port but of whose kindness in these last days he
had been too i'll to know. Loving friends were all
about him. loving friends kept the sad chamber
will m
down to rest in the still country-place where he was
born. To them his memory needs no vindication,
and they wait sorrowfully, but not hopeessy. for
patient Time to set him right with all the world.
Albert d. Richardson was the of Elisha Richard.
con and Harriet Blake Richardson OF Franklin, Mass
He was born Oct G, 1885, and therefore at the time
of his decease &c years. MONTH and days Old FRANK
lin was originally part of wrentham. and when cut off,
some suggested to the philosopher that he might
present the village with bell In honor Of ITS being
named for him. He replied, however that he thought
the inhabitants cared for than sound and 30
he sent them library which Is still extant. Franklin
was the home Of Horace Mann. Here, ALSO for about
half century the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Emmons the cell
ebrsed divine lived and abored the pastor of the
Congregational Church.
The Richardson family has lived in the neighborhood
fer upward Of two hundred years, and can be traced
through generations 10 John Richardson, VINO
supposed have few years after the May
flower and who died In Medfeld about 1850. Elisha
Richardson, father Of the deceased, Woodworking
farmer comfortable circumstances for those days. but
compelled 10 practice the greatest industry and economy
order TO free the homestead from the debts lying 1t
when he came into possession. He worthy
descendant the old Puritan stock. brought up
children in the orthodox faith and though harsh
with them, stern discpinarian, and eXacted from
them rigid obedience. In the aas Of the church and the
township he took active part and was highly es
teemed by all who knew him. Elisha Richardson mar
rse1h ia wife Rufh In ~ he
six children of whom fourth Elisha horticulturist
and nurseryman, is living at Thompson's Station
L. l. After the decease of his first wife, in 1877 he
ned, in 1872 Harriet Blake daughter of Timothy Blake
and Julia Deane Blake OF Franklin, by whom he had
two children o. Charles Addison, editor and one Of the
propreors Of The Boston CongregatOnaSt; a. Albert
Deane Richardson subject Of the present obituary
The deceased baptized by the Rev. Dr. smaley
subsequently Of Troy n. " and father Of Geo W. Small
ley, the London correspondent Of THE TRIBUNE. He
early 70 the Franklin District School,
learned easily. aud usually at the head OF his class
When boy he made many friends and acquantances
who through life have retained for him the warm aGec-
ti0n which he then inspired In them Though required
a boy labor the farm, he never showed any In
clfnatioD fer such work. Farm life in fact was task
and drudgery TO him. 1t was simply not his vocation,
and his dissemination sprang from dislike 10 work In
Itself in after life could have been indus
tTOus When about twelve years Of age he first began
show aptitude for writing Some OF his letters that
period his cousin Geo. W. Blake still preserved
and are expressed in good forcible English Mr.. Rich
ardson also had a volume Of his juvenile essays aud
stories, which show how his mind took d literary
tnrB. His early opportunities for education
were. however, extren ell limited. In addition
the District school, be for short time the
Franklin High School, and, when sixteen wears old