Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-09-02

Who shall dare to subject the ways of
Providence to the standard of human judg-
ment? And yet where shall we seek for
consolation in the great calamity that is pos
sibly overtaking the nation? We, of course,
incline to the belief that there is compensa-
ton in all things, and are thoroughly
aware of the fact that the sun which
is setting in clouds and darkness with us,
may be rising in glorious effulgenee
upon our antipodes. But this Is
more frequently the philosophy of spec
tator than that of an actor-of Spectator
than that of a sufferer. Could we but COM
prehend the depth of the agony, or analyze
the hopelessness of the feelings which
should, humanity speaking, pervade the
whole being of the venerable and benign
lady whose portrait graces yet saddens our
pages to-day, should her worst fears be re-
allied, our philosophizing on this point
would be greatly embarrassed, "What
compensation can there be for herr" we
shall be ready to exclaim and, SO far as a
mere materialistic view of the case is con-
cerned-what compensation, indeed
After fifty years of the most sanctitied
widowhOOd and sublime devotion to her
family, all of whom were left helpless Or
phans on her struggling hands, she had the
lnetfable happiness of seeing the noble les
sons of industry, morality and religion
which she had taught them, crowned with
more than success and beheld with pride
and JOY the son who had so long and ar
IDENTITY loved her, and who was, in turn, the
apple of her eye, raised to the highest dig
nifty in the gift of the nation, and beloved
and honored universally 1t was her com
pensatlon for all the tears and prayers and
sufferlngs that had characterized her early
narrow circumstances, when she was strug-
Cling from morning till night to make
his future creditabie, alike to his
country, his kindred and him
self In his marked career, both
as statesman and a soldier, and in his final
elevation to the proudest honor that can fall
to the lot of an American citizen, she
recognized the benign and helping hand of
Heaven. But 10. scarcely had the tears of
unspeakable JOY and gratitude filled her
aged eyes-scarcely had the ecstatic voice
of thanksgiving died on her trembling lips,
as she saw him emerge from the great
masses of the commonwealth and ascend
the loftiest pedestal known to the Constitu-
ton, when the glorious vision was swept
with lightning speed from before her
raptured gaze, and all was darkness and
blood
This noble American matron has lived to
some purpose, and benefited by the lessons
of virtue, morality and the hope of heaven
which she had early taught her children.
She has never attempted to arraign the de-
crees of Providence, but has bowed
submission to the will of heaven; believing
that "all things work together for good" :"
Consequently, in this, the hour of her dire
distress, she will look beyond the precincts
of this world for compensation touching
any case that may be heart-rending and in
expEcable to her here This simple and ex-
alted philosophy will sustain her under all
circumstances, and enable her to drain this
bitter cup with fortitude, unless heaven in
its compassion should snatch it from her