Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-03
A Lonely Death.

We announced, two or three weeks ago. with 4
brief tribute To her memory, the death lat Wash
ington) OF the daughter OF former member Of
congress from Vermont We find the following
fuller notice Of her life and death In the last letter
Of Mary Clemmer Amcs to the New York Indc
pendent II will be read with the deepest interest
attended, the other Sabbath, the unnoted
funeral Of q woman who, lying there alon,
and almost kinless in DEATH forced upon INV
thoughts the keenlycontrasting light and
shade of personal fortune in this capitolian
city. Her grandfather was member from
Vermont Of the first congress held in Phila
delphia. He was a grand gentleman of that
dav, who went and came followed and served
by his colored body servant. Her grand
mother (married at fifteen) was fine, help
less lady, who did not dress or undress her
self. and whose husband did not allow her
10 know what she was to have for her din
ner until she was ready TO eat il. She lived
and died rich helpless, and honored. Her
son, the father Of the lovely dead woman
was also member of congress. lie served
long and brilliantly for consecutive terms in
Washington His children grew up at the
capitol, surrounded by servants, commanding
luxury and all the pleasant honors of official
position. There was no political gift in the
keeping of his native state that their father
nttI
hopelesSly overtaken at last with the curse
of the love Of strong drink lie died poor.
When his body was laid away in the con
gressional cemetery, his family came back to
find themselves on the populous plateau of
"working people, From that hour began
the life conservation of sister to a brother.
That brother never rose to his fathers or
grandfather's position. With many of their
gifts, he inherited the weakness Of his father.
lie filed place of trust amid the clerkships
of the capital He was respected and honored
for many personal virtues. but he only kept
his official position through the love and care
of his sister. Two years ago he died, leay-
ing the ministering angel of his lite-past
youth. poor and alone. In time, place in
the treasury was given to her-a place so
poor that it subjected her TO the most dis
cordant 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 Vermont, was able to procure her
a more congenial position, with increased
pay She had scarcely entered upon it,
scarcely written to her good friend note Of
thanks for it, when, alone in the night, in
boarding house on Pennsylvania avenue, the
final summons came. She called a woman
friend in the next room, and in half an hour
was dead. Her coffin was covered and hung
close with the flower crosses and garands
brought by friends who honored her vet in
all the company who gathered in that lonely
clearinghouse there was no one who really
needed her or one to whom she belonged.
Tears were shed but they were tears of
human tenderness, that woman so loving
and unselfsh should have died at last un-
needed and alone. Through that gray, win
try Sabbath sympathizing men and women
went with her as far as they could go--to the
dreary congressional cemetery-where they
laid her beside the brother, with whose pas
sing the supreme object of her own life went
out Few knew Of her dying Her death
and burial We're barely noted She was not
member Of congress; not a man great upon
the earth. She was only a woman, who had
given her whole life in love and sacrifice to
4 man, and that man was her brother. Surely
we know not who our angels are. They look
into our eyes they go in and out of our doors
they serve us, they love us, they die for us
and we see them not, till we perceive them
by spiritual sight, beyond the clasp of hand
or the reach of our mortal arms.