Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-17

DTED.-In Leicester, June 9th, Willie Dickin-
son PIERCE, only son of William N. and Mary
Ann Dickinson PIERCE, aged fifteen years, eleven
months and FIVE days. He had suffered for
four years by a rheumatic affection, during
which time he had three severe rheumatic fe-
vers, and for about seven months previous to
his death, the disease had approached the region
of the heart, and caused him at times intense
suffering. He was young man of great prom
Use, ana in his early death his afflicted pareats,
and younger sister, the only remaining one
of seven children, will have the sympathy of all
who knew him.
As a child he was ever Obedient, respectful,
and affectionate; as a companion genial, anna
bic, and intelligent, His many young aSsoci-
ateS in the academy and Sabbath school will
greatly feel the loss of one whose Yirtuous life
aud moral department was worthy of imitation.
During the last months of his severe and pain
full sickness, he eXemplifed the graces of a
Christian character by patience under suffering
which could scarcely have been expected in one
of his tender years.
From his early youth he had evincei re-
spect for religion, and a love for the study of
the Bible, and the exercises Of the Sabbath
school, which matured his mind in the truths of
revelation, and gave him correct knowledge
of his Christian duties and obligations. When
by months of confinement his thoughts were
withdrawn from the world his Christian char
acter became more fully developed, and he free
ly conyersed on the subject of religion. He had
implicit faith in the justice and goodness of
God, and in the mercies of Savior, whom he
seemed freely and fully to have accepted, and
whose goodness and love were the theme of his
conversation and thanksgiving. He often eX-
pressed his confidence that all his sufferingS
were ordered wisely and merciiuly, and never
wa n n chou IN moi ianna
on account of his confinement He spoke fire.
quently of the goodness of God in atfording him
| so much comfort in his sickness, and in giving
| him kind parents and other friends to provide
and care for him.
His faith and trust in his Savior and his be-
lief in His faithfulness in hearing and answering
prayer, were somewhat remarkable. During
| the last Sabbath OF his life, whose holy hours
were rendered more sacred to his friends by his
removal from them TO a Sabbath of rest in
heaven his mind was clear and active, although
at times he suffered severely from the nature of
the disease, and was often apparently near the
confines of heaven. He was almost constantly
conversing with his friends or Offering audible
prayer. AT an early hour in that day, while
thus severely suffering and apparently near his
end, he inquired the time, and was told the hour.
Soon afterwards he became relieved, and OBJ
served that he had at that time thought that
God would take him home, and he should prob
ably be in heaven in fifteen minutes, but he had
prayed to God to prolong his life through the
day, if consistent with his will, for the sake of
his parents, and he was confident his prayer
would be granted. He then wished that the
family could be gathered around him, and with
some difficulty he clasped his emaciated hands
over his heart, and offered fervent thanksgiving
to God for His manifest mercies to him, and
dedicated himself anew to his Savior He was
spared until about five O'Clock in the afternoon
of that day, when he peacefully passed TO his
happy home.
His only expressions of desire to live were
that he might give evidence of his sincere love
to God, and thus induce his companions and
Others to follow their Savior. He IS taken from
his greatly afflicted parents and friends and
from a world in which he promised great use
funess, 10 the higher blesSedness of the children
of God, and has left to his youthful compan-
ions an example sacred 10 their memory and
worthy their faithful imitation. d.