Connecticut western news., 1877-05-25

Obituary. funeral of Mrs. Bird, widow of the late Rev. Isaac Bird, took place at the Sedgewick Institute, on Sab bath afternoon May Is, 1877. Rev. Dr. Prime, of the N. Y. Observer (who is of the family connecticut guided the services. His address commenced with the remark, ''This is the third time in less than year that we have gathered in this house on an occasion the same as has brought us hither today. Once only was it to mourn when the bud was as if snatched from the parent stem. The time will yet come when what seemed inscrutable ln that painful event will all be made plain. On the first in- stance we assembled to pay our tribute of affection to the memory of a venerated member of this household, and now his companion through long course of life, has, after these months followed him to the rest and blessedness of heaven. At cele- bration of the S0th anniversary of their marriage union, paper prepared by the bus band, contained a sketch of their lives, from which will take few facts as de- scriptive of the one who is now to be laid in the grave Mrs. Cora F. Bird was born in l799 educated at the Bradford Female Seminary where the early missionaries, Mrs. Harriet Newhall and Ann Hazletine Judson were prepared for their missionary work, and near the same time. In 1922 MT. and mrs. Bird were, with the Good ale's designated by the American Board, to commence mission in the Holy Land, but unfavorable circumstances intervening on their arrival there, turned them aside to Bayroot, and thus was begun the mission in Syria, which has proved one of the most important of our East India Missions. Af- ter spending 12 years in the work, impair ed health led them to come back to this on frxY hnu stunned their servlces abroad, but were for 25 years devotedly occupied in teaching the young A very high estimate was rendered of the intellectual requirements and moral qualities of the deceased, also of her abound ing activity. In 1853, son, Key. Wm. Bird went to the same mission and took up his fathers work. [As known to theChrist- ian friends here, MT. Wm. Boyd is closing a years vIsIt home, and will soon be again engaged in bis desired toll in Syria.l As emblematical of their pioneer work, was sent to the elder MT. and Mrs. Bird, long after, full grown sheaf of wheat. A sprig from that Syriau sheaf was on the casket, with which now reposed one who had given her youth to sowing the seed for those now reaping the gospel fruits in Sy- ria"
 Dr. Prince proceeded to speak of the sentiments with which we should part from such as these. Rather should our present service be denominated cele- bration of that to which our departed friends are introduced by thls change that has passed on them. He related two in stances of experience of ocean perils one where two persons fell overheard on dark night, and the concentrated efforts and sympathy of the ships company to rescue them. The suspense closed by drawing them safely aboard Apain the yessel in which he was, on nearing the shore, was in the utmost danger of striking on rock. All the inhabitants at once rushed to the waters edge, awaiting with intense solici- tude the result of the fierce struggle against death of whole ships company, and not one was lost, but when we were safe land ed these utter strangers rejoiced over us as If we had been their dearest and nearest friends. Prayer and singing completed the interesting service. 0. M. s.
 Great Burlington, May l2, 1877.