The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-30
MRS MARTHA D. GRATTAN.

Was bora in the county of Albemsrle, Va, No
Ridgeway.
She departed this life in Harrisonburg, Rocking.
ham county, Va, June 18th, 1869.
From child her nature was gentle and sweet, to
q degree seldom found even among the best. With
a mind Of excellent endowments, and nurtured as
she was N the bosom of a community noted for its
culture and refinement, her education was conduct.
ed and her character formed under superior advan-
tages. Intelligent, lively, conscientious, full OF kind
affections, she attracted the confidence and love OF
all who knew her.
Upon her marriage, in August, 1882, with Major
Robert Grattan, an eminent citizen of Rockingham
county, her home was fixed in that well know
family mansion, where plenty, and peace, and
friendship, and hospitality abode by day and by
matchmaking it empbatically " Contentment"
Her residence here was for period of about thirty
years. In lS47 she made public profession of her
faith in Christ, and became member OF Augusta
church. The writer of this tribute to her memory
was then her pastor and recalls with tender interest
the beautiful scriptural simplicity of her religious
experience, and the gratifying evidence she ever
continued to give that was "a good hope through
grace"
She dedicated her children also to God and earn.
estly endeavored to "bring them up in the nurture
and admoniton of the Lord" Her household was
one to which kind providence dispensed large
share of happiness and much of it through her own
cheerful and loving minstrations But if the lights
of human life fell upon it, so did its shadows
When, one by one, the parents of her husband and
other aged kindred were taken, it only what is
expected in the course of nature. But when her
noble-hearted and devoted husband was stricken
with death in the prime of his life, leaving upon her
the charge of large family of children of tender
years she felt that she was "a widow indeed, and
that her house was left unto her desolate
After few years the desolations of war also came.
These brought her sorrow upon sorrow, in the loss
of two sons and the almost fatal woundng of a
third-not to mention others pertaining to the death
of dear kindred and the destruction of valuable
property. But in the midst of all these trials her
faith rested calmly upon Christ, and her heart was
resigned to the will of her heavenly Father.
For years past her failing health lat times) gave
admonitions of the future which she well compre-
hended. She had been gradually growing weaker
all winter and spring, so that slight attack OF ordi'
nary sickness completely Frustrated her, and in a
week sterward she psralyzed, losing the use of
her right side, and also the power of speech. In
this state she continued for two days, sensible of
who was with her aud of what was said. She did
not suffer PAIN but seemed gradually to sink away,
breathing her last about evening twilight. In all
the beautiful lessons OF Christian resignation she has
left there was nothing sweeter than the peaceful,
submissive manner in which she bore this her last
trial Her only wish in regard to it was granted
that she might not hnger to be burden to herself
and friends, if she were parayzed. All her children
were with her, and She knew it until she was too
weak to know any thing
Blessed be God for all that she was by nature, and
for all that she was by grace for all that she to
her family, her kindred, her friends, and to the
Church of that precious Redeemer who bought her
with his own blood; for all that she was in life and
in death, and for all that she is now in the kingdom
of glory, and shall be, world without end, Amen.
w B.