The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-03

The third volume Of the Diary Of Samuel
Se,cdH published by the Massachusetts His
torical Society brings down from TIA to
October 1929. u few months before the death OF
the author OF the journal. In 1715 Mr.. Sewal
was made Judge Of Probate for the county Of
Suffolk. and two years afterward occurred the
death Of his first WIFE with whom he had lived
happily for about forty-three years. and by
whom he had seven sons and seven daughters.
He was now 65 years old. and it was scarcely to
be expected that he would marry again. On
the day of his first wife's death. wo find the
following note in his diary God is teachln;
me new Lesson: to live a Widowcr's Life.
Lord help me to Learn; and be a Sun and
Shiold TO me. ROW so much OF my Comfort and
Defence are taken away" No doubt the worthy
magistrate was sincere in the nrst eush
of his grief bat he seems to have soon
felt the need of a companion in his home. and
during the thirteen years oflife which remained
to him he married a second and third time.
Those OF Sewalls friends who ki ew him best
took for granted that his decision would be for
renewal Of married life and sob . OF them
appear TO have interested themselves in select
ing u partner for him, while he himself was not
inactive in the matter. Thus, we read under
date Of March 10. l7lS. that Madam Hiuch-
man took occasion highly to commend Madam
winthrop, tne MUpT-peHeIdl willow, anu
again March l9l. that Mr.. Leverett. when he
and were alone. told me his wife and he had
laid out Madam Brown for me, and yet took
occasion to say that Madam Winthrop had done
very generously by the Major Generals family
in giving up her Dover" 1t was in fact on
Madam Winthrop that the eyes OF the elderly
widower rested with especial favor. and his
prolonged and Jealous. though ntermitted and
in the end unsuccessful, courtshp Of this lady
constitutes a diverting episode of his auto
biography. and throws q great deal Of light
upon the ideas. customs. and manners of
colonial New England.
He began his approaches about four months
after the death Of his first wife, but it was done
in q very discreet and edifying fashion. his
esteem being attested by the prefer Of certain
tracts. Under date Of Feb. 8. l7ls. we find re-
corded that L sent Madam Winthrop Smoking
Flax Innamed. The Jewish Children Of Berlin.
and nay small Vial OF Tears by Mr.. Gerrish
with my Service: She thanks me and returns
her Service to NO." He is smtten with re-
morse however. for such premature inclina-
ton to find a substitute for the wife Of his
youth. and on Feb. he chronicles: This
| morning wandering in my mind whether to
live Single or u Married Life; | had q sweet
and very afYectionatc Meditation concerning
the Lord Jesus Why did l not resolutely,
presently close with Him! and cried nightly
| to God that He would help me so to doe" But
| he cannot keep away from the fair widow. and
a fellow magistrate taking him to task for his
attentions. he explains Il told him had been
| there but thrice and twice upon Business he
| said Gaze fe,t'ul. When came home gave Mrs.
Hornbuckle DIR. Mather's four sermons. one
about believers being Married to Christ"
Somewhat shaken in his purpose, he writes a
littla ntpr tbn toll If t,yn
| friends: oh. that they and might be mar
| ried to Christ. and that our Marriage might be
| known to Ourselves and Others"
| It would seem. however that Madam Win
| throp at this time gave hcr elderly admircr but
little encouragement, SO that his thoughts
| turned toward a certain Mistress Denison He
| had drawn her late husbands WILL and was
| familiar with the provision made for the widow.
| Under date OF July lG. l1lS we read: Went
| and visited Mrs. Dcnison Gave her King
| Georges E1lgies in copper and an English
| Grown OF King Charles ii. Eat Curds with her
Icraved IA Blessing and Returned Thanks came
| home after It," July 25: Visit Mrs. Deni-
son she invites mo to eat give her two Gases
with knife and fork In each ono Turtle shell
tackling; the other long with Ivory handles.
| Sluard cost A. Cd. also Pound Of Rasins with
| proportionable almonds" On Aug. 6 we lind
chroniclcd more edifying Offering: Gave
Mrs. Denison Psalm Book. neatly bound in
England with Turkey Leather" This Is fol-
| lowed up on Aug. ~ by the following entry: Il
| ride and visit Mrs. Denison; she mentions her
| discouraRomcnts by reason OF Discourses she
has heard; prayed God TO direct her and mo- -
During the next two months Judge Sewall s
| devotions to the widow are very constant. and
! on Oct. Is we read: Visit Mrs penison on