Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-03-02

/ And then we do not see the man. we
may say of his appearance that he was
very tall, slim man. with long arms,
having nothing peculiar to indicate to
stranger superior man, except a keen.
intelligent eye; remarkable powers of
conversation, showing the keenest and
widest observation of men and books
and his accurately polite manners, treat
ing all with due consideration, without
fawning. with respect, without aifecta-
ton but to describe those subtle in
fuences which made him welcome every
where strive in vain. can only
speak the exact truth, so far as | 20.
with sorrowful regret that it was not
permitted to some one his equal in train
ing and mental analysis to describe more
minutely the secret springs of his young
but wonderful influence.
can only speak of him generally,
like that when he sat down to a case he
suggested new and interesting features
In it. He learned the case quickly and
retained it always; and when he came
into the bar to try it, he inspired his
! associate and client with confidence, the
court and jury with interest, the oppo-
site party with feeling that they must
look we'll to the soundness of their show
Ing, and everybody with an idea that
whatever he thought proper for him TO
do in his clients behalf, would be done
with most perfect courage. He often
left many regrets but no sting in the
breast of his adversary. He labored to
make all happy, so far as justice to his
client-the lawyers highest duty
would permit. This filled his office and
his home with friends, his life with light
and his heart with highest hopes. His
busy work concealed, to a certain extent,
the deep interest his life had created.
But we soon saw it in its fullness. |
read it when grief forbade his home-re
turning neighbor to tell how he was
failing in New York. and when it scaled
the lips of many when he died. | heard
it in the words of strong man, III Il
heartless city, telling of his life and de
scribing his affection, with many tears.
And we all felt what his life had been
in the dark, cold, lonesome stiffness,
that settled down upon us because he
was dead
The details of his decline and death,
which have craven deeply upon so many
hearts, who knew it not before, the pain
fnl mama of that -AI:---..-7+-~ tv---r,,
so familiar that they reproduce them
selves in sad and silent grief, with such
mornful harmony that any struggling
words of mine would but disturb those
memories which come to us as from
a brothers grave. Our grief IS selfish.
We grieve not so much for him as for
ourselve- our loss. 1t is well with
him. He had little to regret. lie early
sought and carefully surveyed the road
which led to his Rome. He met many
friends on his hurried, joyous way, and
and as he rested a moment beneath some
holly tree, he saw the pleasant face Of
one who ever spake, while he could
hear, only cheerful words. They became
even as one and all along the path Of
life she lit the way with cheerful light
from the window of his home. \ pleas
ant, happy father, husband, brother, man.
From his couch in that far off western
town, he looked back upon no wild II
regularity of his youthful or ripper years.
He looked back with conscious rectltude,
through the fact that he had done all
he could, and with regret that he could
no longer comfort his friends and for
ward, across the river, lit by the faith
Of that church, the forms and creed Of
which had long been pleasant to his
mind, then quietly passed beyond our
view, leaving us deeper than ever before
in the shade Of the eternal world.
Had he no faults Il? He was human.
Oh. would that none of Us had more
than he Did he ever see a fallen broth
er and not streach forth a helping hand
and whisper good counsels? ? Did friend
stray from the road he had fifty chosen
and he not kindly call him back and
point out to him the guides-irmLence.
Fortitude, temperance ami Ir"th?
This is why his death brought no
common sorrow and why each one Of Us
feels a brother loss. \ bright intellect.
a generous rival. fast friend, genial,
courageous. useful light has gone out.
And souowing friends now join a widow tear
| The stricken bar mix with the orphans cry,
| And students sad surround their patrons bier
While bench and state now heave the heartfelt sigh.
| How can we blend the tender thoughts We feel
| To join mothers brothers. sisters sJrT0w,
| With mouTnful grief for our lost brother STEELE
| Which lessons not but deeper grows tomorrow
But this We can do: we can initiate
his example, close up the broken ranks,
get speedily into the true road to life,s
Rome, and running by the evils which
beset US to our journeys end, there to
look back over a straight or Strengthened
course and send Romes herald back to
tell our coming ones the better roads.