Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-03-14
The Death Bed OF Prince Albert.

Most of our readers are probably fa-
miliar with the remarkable saying of
Prince Albert when upon his dying
| bed:
III have had wealth rank and power;
but if this were all had, how wretch
ed should be now.
Crock of Ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myselfin thee"
1t is not easy to conceive of more
brilliant and happy life than was that
of Prince Albert. He was child of
illustrious birth, and the heir to what
would generally be considered large
wealth. The home of his childhood
was one of the most imposing of baro-
nial castles, which feudal pride and
opulence had reared upon the heights
of Germany. In his early youth he
enjoyed every privilege of education
earth could give. The best teachers of
Europe guided his mind in all branch
es of knowledge. Obsequious attend
ants anticipated his wants,a as he freely
moved amid the Luxurious surround
ings of the castle. Familiarity with
the most cultivated society gave him
the highest polish of manners, and
made him familiar with the etiquette
of courts. He was by nature endowed
with Il fine mind, much amiability of
character, and remarkable beauty of
person.
Prince Albert thus early became, in
personal attractions, in mental cul-
ture, in princely bearing, one of the
most accomplished gentlemen in Eu-
rope. When about eighteen years of
age he visited the royal family in
England, to which he was nearly re-
lated. In the gorgeous saloons of
Windsor Castle and of Buckingham
Palace he was an honored guest. He
was introduced to circle of society as
bri riiliaut and refined as has ever been
known upon earth. And here he won
| the love of his cousin, the Princess
Victoria, the heiress to the throne of
Eng land.
Their marriage was an event in
which not only all Christendom, but
every government of earth was inter-
ested. ambassadors flocked to
| London, in honor of the Oc-
casion from all the principal dy-
nasties of Africa and Asia. Westmin-
| ster's grand cathedral was never be-
| fore crowded with such an assemblage.
| All that earthly ambition could desire
was now attained by Prince Albert.
| He was in the enjoyment of wealth
| unsurpassed in the visions of romance; /;
he had rank which placed him on an
equality with the most illustrious
kings he had power such as few NOR
tails ever possessed, and yet without
the pressure of toll and responsibility.
An attractive family of sons and
daughters grew up around him. He
had no paternal anxiety as to provis-
ion for their future. AS each child was
born, the British Parliament voted
that child, for the support of the dig
nifty of the royal family, an annual
income of about one hundred thousand
dollars.
One daughter married the heir ap-
parent of the crown of Prussia. Thus
there IS opened to her perhaps the
highest position which a lady can now
occupy upon this globe-that of the
Empress of Germany. The eldest son,
heir to the throne of Great Britain,
married into the royal family of Dem
mark. Other brilliant alliances opened
before others of the children.
In the midst of all this prosperity, in
the meridian of his days-being but
forty-two years of age-sudden disease
rstrikes Prince Albert down, and he lies
upon dying bed. The regal couch is
draped with an imperial canopy. The
splendors of a palatial chamber glitter
around the bed. The highest dignita-
ries of Church and State are present
with their sympathy and homage.
But death is the equalizer of prince
and peasant. The queen is but a
woman, weeping, broken-hearted over
her dying husband. The royal chill
dren are but SONS and daughters, Sob
bing in uncomfortable grief over their
dying father. Prince Albert Is but a
man, gasping, fainting, sinking. in
death-passing from the shadow of an
earthly crown to the tribunal of God,
where, like the humblest subject in
his realms, he must answer for every
thought, word and deed done in the
body. In moment of cessation from
pain, he looked up to the weeping ones
around him and uttered the memora-
BILE words:
sT have had wealth, rank and power
but if this were all had, how wretch
ed should be now!
Crock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!"
He had, we believe, something
more. Faith in an atoning Saviour
sustained him. He had prOfesseC
faith in Jesus, and all who knew
him believed him to be a sincere dis
ciple.
Reader! you will soon be placed or
this dying bed. Have you this faith
to sustain you in that dread hour ?
Advance.