Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-09-01
Her Last Song.

Sister Mary Agnes Colbert, the famous
soprano of Mount du Chantal, was quiz
etly buried this afternoon in the ceme-
terry near the college. There was prob
ably no nun living in retirement from
the world so widely known and so
warmly loved as she. Twenty-Five
years ago Miss Colbert, in the blush of
her early maidenhood, came from Phil
adelphia and entered the novitiate of
the Sisters of the Visitation, then settled
in this city. Said the Mother Superior
in charge of the school, this afternoon
after the funeral: at is seldom that
the tongue of common fame invades
the quiet halls of convent, and never
was there singer to whom fame came
less welcome than to sister Mary Agnes.
Her gentle nature seemed to blush at
the high encomiums placed upon her
singing, and her soul was frequently
harrassed with fear lest the adulation
should WOO her heart to the love of
earthly things. Her nature, as her
countenance, was gentle, and she was
happy in singing when it gratitied her
friends or added to the reputation of the
institution. She brought to the sister
hood no broken heart, but came to holy
VOWS in the brightest years of her life,
and from the time of her coming to her
death lived her peaceful life contented
and happy. She was loved by all her
pupils, whom she attracted here from
all parts of the country, and not less by
her sisters in the order. For year or
more she has been threatened with par
alysis and has refrained from all but the
lighter duties of her position. The high
est medical skill of the city was Sc
cured, but without avail. Finally
her throat was attacked. When the
wonderful, pure soprano notes failed to
come with her endeavor she gave up al
most all hope of living beyond few
months, saying: "Il my work were not
concluded l would not so have been
smitten in the one talent that was given
me-" For several years her voice had
been used with the greatest considera-
ton, and she only sang upon special
occasions. Her last public performance
was when number of memh ers of the
last Legislature visited her. Her health
was then greatly impaired, and she was
urged not to sing, but she said in her
kindly way, that it was pity to disap-
point those who had come out on pur-
pose to hear her sing, and going to the
piano sang for them her favorite hymn:
Il Know that My Redeemer Liveth." :"
The first notes of the song as they came
weakly from the throat that had always
added new beauty to the hymn before
seemed a requiem to the ears of those
who had been accustomed to the full
resonance of her voice. AS she sang,
however, she seemed to be imbued with
the spirit of the bygone days, and sang
the last lines of the hymn with fervor
and tone that none who heard that last
song will forget. 1t was in the evening,
and the room was unlighted except by
the fire, but when the last notes of the
hymn died away and the sweet singer
leaned forward exhausted upon the pi-
ano, the room seemed filled with warmth
and light After that evening she sang
no more except in the privacy of her
own room, where she frequently gave
voice to her favorite hymns, until her
voice grew weaker as her health failed.
Wheeting Cor. Pittsburgh Dispatch.