Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-05

A LONELY DEATH-We announced, two
or three weeks ago, with a briei tribute TO
her memory, the death lat WashinstDn)
of the daughter of former Member of Con-
gress from Vermont; We find the follow
ing fuller notice OF her life and death in
the last letter of Mrs. Mary Clsmmer to
the New York Independent. We have read
it with deep interest. for We knew and
esteemed the subject OF it. and We copy 1t
with our unqualified testimony 70 the truth
of its word Oi praise
Iattended the otner Sabbath the unn0ted
funeral of woman who. lying there alone
and almost kinieS> in death, forced upon
nv thoughts the kesnly-contrasting light
and shade OF personal fortune IN this cap
itolian city Her grandfather was MEM
Der from Vermont ct the first Congress held
in Philadelphia He was a grand gentle
man Of that day. who went and came fol-
lowed and served by his colored body serv-
ant. Her grandmother (married at tifteen)
was a fine. helpless lady. who did not dress
or undre-s herself, and whose husband did
not allow her to know what she was to have
for her dinner until she was ready 10 eat 1t.
She lived and died helpless, rich, and hon
ored. Her son, the father of the lovely
dead woman, was also u member OF Com
gress. He served long and brilliantly for
consecutive terms in Washington. His
children grew up at the Capitol surrounded
by servants, commanding luxury and all
the pleasan, honors of official position.
There WAS no political gift in the keeping
of his native State that their father might
not have commanded had he not been hope
lessly overtaken at last with the curse OF the
love of strong drink. lie died poor.
When his body was laid away in the Con
yressional Cemetery, his family came back
to End themselves on the populous plateau
Of working people" From that hour
began the life conservation OF a sister 10
brother. That brother never r1se to his
fathers or grandfather position. With
many of their gifts. he inherited the weak
ness of his father He filled place of trust
amid the clerkships of the Capitol; but he
Glled it and kept it only through the never
ceasing watchfulness and care Of the sister,
who gave her life to him. He was resp Ct
ed and honored for many personal virtues.
but he only KEEP. his official position through
the love and care of his sister. Two years
ago he died, leaving the ministering angel
Of his life-past youth. poor, and alone ln
tine . place in the treasury was gwen to
ber-a place 40 poor that it subjected her
to the most discordant surroundings. the
most uncongenial associates. while the
stipend received for her labor was barely
sufficient to pay for her food and shelter.
This very winter Senator Morrill,, OF YER
mont, was able to procure her more o1n-
genial position. with increased paw. She
had scarcely entered upon it, scarcely writ
ten to her good friend note OF warm
thanks for it. when. alone in the night, In
a clearinghouse on Pennsylvania Avenue.
- ShA called a
woman friend in the next room and in half
an hour was dead. Her coftn was covered
and hung close with the flower crosses and
garlands brought by friends who honored
her vet in all the company who gathered
in that lonely lodging house there was
not one who really needed her or one
TO whom she belonged Tears were
sbed. bu, thew were tears of human tender
ness. that a woman SO loving and unselfsh
should have died at last unneeded and
alone. Through that gray wintry Sabbath
sympsthizing men and women went with
her as far ss they could go--t0 the dreary
Congressional Cemetery-where they laid
her beside the brother, with whose 6nal
passing the supreme object Of her own life
went out Few knew Ct her dying. Her
death and burial were barely noted. She
was not q member of Congress not man
great upon the earth. She was only
woman, who had given hsr whole life in
love and sacrifice to Q man. and that man
was her brother. Surely We know not who
our angels are. They look into eyes they
70 in and out Of our doors they serve rs.
thsy love us. they die for ~ (; and We So
then not, till We pereeivs them by spirituL
sieht, beyond the clasp Of band ~ Ne
rSaah Of our mortal ayma.