New-York tribune., 1879-09-18
WILLIAM w. HUNTS LAST DAY.
LETTER FROM CELIA TnAxrER.


To ne Edttor Of Ths TRIBUNE
SIRE To the many friends of William Hunt il
may be grateful to hear some trustworthy account
of his sad end less shocking than the bare and often
incorrect statements Of the current journals. Tie
had been living with his devoted sister at he Isles
of Shoals. eight weeks the centre of a bright and
friendly circle in the cottage at Appledorc. and
spite of the disease Of nervous prostraton under
which he was laboring, am thankful TO believe he
had hours of peace AMI even happiness during that
time. He was sure o! all our sympathy and every
one was glad TO cheer and comfort him whenever
ami wherever the least opportunity offered itself to
do him any service. He wore such brave. heroic
front all he suffered. never dreamed of such
a terrible end at hand. I'm and out our pleasant
parlor and about the sunny piazza, in the sweet
summer weather he passed at all hours of the day,
watching the glowing cOloTs in the little garden,
or the beautiful sea and sky or wing in one OF the
hamnorks listening to the lovely music OF piano
and violin that h1atcd ont to him from within. or
chatting pleasantly with this that friend of the
many who drew close about him. glad to have the
privilege of listening ~ his wonderful speech SO
the hrilht DAYS passed, and am sure he mus have
found some pleasure IN them. feeling himself so
wholly beloved, honOred ard appreciated hy ail. As
the time drew for the closing of The house and
he felt that ne must leave this place. for every one
pressed great anxiety about his future movements.
droadmg the change TO other and less pure air. and
feeling So little strength to bear anything thai
might be before hun. We sirove To cheer him, nor
Ill we See any cause for more than usual anxiety
about HIM till the sad Monday of September ..
At the TOP of tie ledge behind the cottage at Ap-
pledOrc Is tiny basin followed ont of the rock To
catch tho rams shallow reservoir f'led with water
which Is conducted by pipes to the wharf. Tor the
of the small steam yacht Pinaiore, which plies
continually between the Islands during the
season. l. is lovely place, this little sheet OF
tranquil water lying out on the top of the rocks.
open 10 he sky and rejecting its every tint and
change a. perfectly ~ the great ocean beyond If.
Hunt and his sister had sat together near il III the
pleasant days. while she skc iched 1t and the gable
of the house close by and he often SAID how pretty
il was. Round il the fragrant bdybcTy bushes
cluster thckiv. and til late the Wild roses blossom
I'm sweetness At its briin all Summer long the little
binds come to drink aud to wash, with twlnkilng
wlugs rufiiug the bright surface; often | watched
them from my window mt supIi~e-spar-
rows. swallows, saudppc:s that made The
place musical with meOdiOus cries. Here on
That Monday morning, when all our little
world was seeking him, found all that was left OF
our beautiful friend floating upon his face. while
the wind iuttorcd a fold of his long coat which lay
the surface elsew here unbrokcn. In moment help
was on the ~pot,nnd unavailing efforts resusciiate
him were made, bui life had been gone some hours.
lie hal not seemed more depressed than usual
flat morning; Doe sat with us hy the fire awhile
after breakfast-it had been raining-thcn he went
out and We never saw him again. Ii was an hour
or two before were really reused 10 alarm about
hn. for each one Thought im IN this or hat place
where he was accustomed TO DE. and 30 anxiety en-
t,lcd our besrts, for OF such catastrophe We could
not dream.
wish all who loved him could have looked Oh
his grand, stli face when he was dead, for there
was peace. OF tbo -plyndrr Of the genius lost to
the world. of thc beauty OF that high nature too
noble to har0or bitterness or any mgcncrous
thought toward any creature, there is no need to
speak. lie is a great light uutimeiy quenchcd,
and there are no words TO match our love for him.
our reverence and our sorrow. CELIA IHAXrLR.
1pplelor,. Isle, of Shoals, sent IL, 1879.