Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-10-09
Death of a Venerable Matriarci,.

We copy the following just tribute
from the pen of the Rev. Thos: o. Sum-
mers, editor Of the Nashville Christian
AdUocate, given to one of the christian
mothers of Augusta county:
The Rev. B. F. Ball enriches our me-
mortal page with an obituary notice OF
one of our old and cherished friends,
Mrs. Elizabeth Peck, of Augusta coun-
ty, Va. We shall never forget when we
entered on our first circuit augusta
Circuit, Baltimore Conference) We
rode up to her gate, four miles be-
low Staunton. She came out to us-a
noble-looking matron, 'fair, fat, and
fOrtyJtUe''-and, cycling us scrutinizing-
ly, remarked, "We let every one wait on
himself here; there is the stable, you
will find plenty of food there for your
horse" We gave her to understand
that that suited US exactly. 1t is need
less to say we were soon at home in that
young preacher was we'll dispose to wait
on himself; and at his next visit, and
ever after for two years, servants enough
were read to wait on him. She was
truly a nursing mother to us, as also was
her sister, Mrs. Clarke, at Waynesboro,
which was our headquarters on the cir
cult. O what pleasant days were those!
How sweet the remembrance of them
We hoped to revisit the scene of ou1
youthful labors before our venerable
mother ascended to the skies. But we
shall see her in glory! How we wish
we could have been present to close her
dying eyes! Brother Ball writes us that
she was tenderly nursed by her two
widowed daughters, whom we remem-
Der with sincere affection, as also other
members of that Christian family. We
are glad that DR.. Martin, who accom-
panied US to Augusta on his way to has
first circuit (Lexington) conducted her
obsequies. He knew her well, and
loved her much.
A HEROINE-A SERVANT GIRL
RUsHEs IN WHERE MEN FEAR TO
TREAD.-Noyon's heroine is servant
girl. A common sewer of great depth
has been opened for repairs, and fou1
men, passing that way in the dark, fell
in. It was not until midnight that
their perilous situation became known.
The poor wretches were already suffo-
eating from a poisonous vapor theil
meanings were heard, and their wives
and children, frantic with grief, be.
sought the bystanders for aid; but
among all the stalwart men who gath
cred around the hole there was not one
brave enough to go down and rescue his
fellow creatures. Then it was that Cath.
arine Vasseur, a lass of seventeen, vol
unteered to descend into the pit. She
was lowered into the sewer, where she
fastened rope around two of the men,
and, assisted by those above, she hac
the happiness of restoring them to theil
wives and children. Again she descend.
ed, and fastened rope around the body
of third man, but her breath began t.
fail her. Painting from foul air and ex
haustion, she had sufficient presence O
mind to knot the end with her own lux
uriant tresses, SO that when the bastard
ly fellows above drew the man to th,
surface they found the all butinanimat,
body of the young girl swinging by tn,
hair to the end of the rope. Fresh al
and stimulants restored her to conscious
lness, but not in time to enable her t,
I save the fourth man, who perished il
the pit.