Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-07
THEODORE PARKER.
of his Grave In Florence.

One of tho noblest Of Americas sons
sleeps his last sleep in the Protestant
cemetery in Florence; and many are the
loving pilgrims from his own land who
visit the peaceful spot where Theodore
Parker lies buried.
During that last weary journey through
Italy from which others had hoped that
he might regain health and strength, but
from which he himself had no such an
tiepations, he expressed the wish that
whenever he died, he might be buried
and allowed to rest undsturbed by sub
sequent removals.
lie was very i'll in Rome, and he hoped
to get to Florence if possible, rs he said,
'tv die there"
1t seems strange If he had ever visited
the cemeteries in the two cities that he
should have preferred to be laid in
Florence rather than in that peaceful
burial ground in Rome which Story de-
scribes so well, as close under 'the shad
ow of the Pyramids of Caius Cestius,
where tall expresses nod in the breeze,
and point their shadowy fingers over the
grassy dial of death, whose hours are
marked by tombs. There love has
planted many flower and trained many
a creeping plant; twilight fingers loving
ly upon its slopes; birds sing in the wav
ing branches; the old pyramid seems to
watch over it alphabetically; lizards
slip out of the clumbling towers and an
cient Ivy mantIed walls which rise above
it; violets, daisies. and roses, here bloom
all the winter long. Truly as Shelley
has said, sit might make one in love with
death, to think one should be buried in
so sweet a place. A sort of sacred ST.
lence hovers over tie spot"
The wish of the dying Parker WAS
granted. He reached Florence to
breathe his last sigh here, and to sleep
his last sleep in the little Protestant
churchyard.
I" Let me have pine tree planted be
side my grave" he said TO loving friends
and rs the nearest approach to his de-
sire, it was their Intention to plant an
italian stone pine near bis last resting
place. But before this was done, Mr. I.
Samuel Longfelow came to Florence
He and some other American friends of
Theodore Parker wished to have phot-
ograph of his grave, and knowing his
request that pine tree might wave over
him, they borrowed from the Royal Con-
servatory an American pine, which was
growing there in pot. and placed it on
the grave, merely TO have it there while
the picture was taken. They requested
the man who had charge of the cemetery
to return it to the green house from
which it had been taken, aud he promised
to do so. But with the diatoriness Of
an Italian, he allowed some time to pass
before he thought of his agreement. =
Meanwhile the roots of the growing pine
tree burst the earthen pot which had con-
tanned them, and imbedded themselves
firmly in the ground under which Thco
dore Parker rests, and so an American
pine tree has planted itself over the no
bic hearted Americans grave.
There it stands, the most fitting of all
monuments over Theodore Parker's last
resting place. The slow years will bring
to it only increased strength and beauty,
as the same years will bring to Theodore
Parker's memory only greater honor.
Besides this pine tree and profusion
of violets and rose bushes which loving
hands have planted there, plain brown
headstone alone marks the spot where
this great man lies. 1t bears the follow,
ing simple inscription:
THEODORE PARKER.
Rorn in Lexington Mass.