Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-11

appeared IN the papers, are not quite accurate
in point of dates and facts; and they do not at
temptto mention, with any particularly, the
traits and merits by which she was distin-
guishcd.
She was born in Brookfeld, the granddaugh
ter of Judge Jedediah Foster of the supreme
court of Massachusetts, and the daughter of
Dwight Foster chief Justice of the common
pleas, and senator in congress from this state.
She came to Worcester on her marriage with
Samuel NJ. Burnside, Esq, learned and able
lawyer, who, in 1910, removed from Westboro
to this town, at the request of citizens who de-
sired competitor with the late Gov Lincoln in
practice at the bar. The late Hon. Alfred
Dwight Foster was her brother, and Judge
Dwight Foster, who recently retired from the
bench of our supreme court, is her nephew.
It's not of her social position, however, but
of herself her private individuality, that l wish
to speak. Hers seems to me to have been a
rare instance Of perfected life. A life COM
pleted by the fulflment of the time Allotted to
the more protracted periods of human existence,
largely favored with temporal blessings, and
chastened by at least the ordinary share of
human suffering. Yet her example of life in
which we find no marked deficiency of expert
ences or attributes, but much that corresponds
to our ideal of manner of living where unselfsh
affections, Christian resignation, love and char
ity, have free play, unimpeded by the coarser
cares aud necessities, was not the result of in
huences Independent of herself 1t was the
effect partly of character, partly of circumstan-
ces, but more than all of the action of character
upon circumstances, How few persons could
have borne her physical pains and deprivations
without a trace of their endurance to be seen in
manner or expressionl How few could have
needed so constantly, and received so devotedly,
the watchful attentions Of others, without I'M
consciously giving Importance to their own
sensations and the little requirements of
personal comfort But with Mrs Burn
side, her personal wants seemed to
occupy no prominent place in her thoughts.
Whatever affectionate cares were directed
towards her were met, and almost resisted, by
an outflow of interest and tenderness for Others.
1t was one of her serious troubles that her
daughters persisted in finding their pleasures,
almost exclusively, among the domestic duties
of which she was the chief object and
centre. The welfare of her children, her rela-
tives and friends, and her dependents, apparent
" held such possession of her mind us to eX-
clude from consciousness, in measure, the
fact that she was subject to many nirmities,
totally blind, and to that extent herself helpless
and dependant. The loss of sight, after an I'M
successful operation upon her eyes, had been at
tended with severe and protracted DISTRESS yet
it was indeed ga drop serene that quenched their
Orbs," or rather moral and intellectual serenity
that kept the inner light without a cloud.
Mrs. Burnside had many natural advantages.
She inherited a mental organization of a clear
and vigorous quality, and had always about her
kindred and friends of high intelligence and cul-
ture. Her genteness and kindness were not the
negative virtues of temperament, arising from
the absence of strong feelings, sentiments and
preludices, but grew out of the control of these
obtained by means ola governing will. She had
very decided opinions of men and things, and
formed independent conclusions, not only upon
abstract questions and incidental subjects, but
upon matters of business, Notwithstanding her
physical disabilities 1t was essential to her sat
sfaction to comprehend the how and the why of
all that was doing about her or for her-of pub
lie affairs not less than domestic affairs. Her
observation was keen as her sympathies were
acute, and both were of practical nature and
tendency. To ascertain the actual right, to
obviate avoidable wrong, and to relieve from the
consequences of error or misfortune, were the
aims and ends of many of her silent processes of
thought.
Simple and sincere with hearty capacity for
social enjoyments, and a thorough pleasure in
the enjoyment OF everybody else, she was her.
self an indispensable part of the Inequalities of
her genial home; though wonder was often felt
that she did not grow weary amid festivities of
which she could be only an imperfect witness.
1t was because she entered so fully into the hap
piness of her friends Of all ages, that she was
never isolated from the gayest and youngest of
her guests In reality, she had not grown old
in any sense of decay 10 the faculties of the
mind or the heart; and this fact, with her arri-
val at maturity Of mortal time, her experience
of mortal troubles and mortal blessings-the
last not least-and the fruitful growth of attri-
butes that are immortal, iustities the applica-
ton to her OF the expression, "a perfected life,
that began, was continued, and has ended, lceU.
But to us, who have known and admired her
virtues, the loss is painful and premature. 1t is
bereavement for which we were not prepared.
will say that last illness, which was brief and
unanticpated, was not, in such an instance, a
blessing and a reward? tH.&