The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-09-30

panion who had sweetened the choicest
part of my life, had rendered toll pleas
ure, had partaken of all my feelings, and
was enthroned in the Utmost recess of
my heart.
Never can | cease to feel the loss, and
to depIore it. Grief for her is too sacred
ever to be profaned on this day, which
shall be during my existence devoted to
her memory.
On the Sd of January, 1888, was uni
ted by the hottest bonds to the woman |
adored. From the hour of our union to
that of our separation never ceased to
thank Heaven for this it's best gift. Not
moment passed in which l did not con-
slider her as a blessing from which the
chief happiness of my life was derived.
This never-dying sentiment, origina-
ting in love, was cherished by long and
close observation of as amiable and esti-
mable qualities as ever adorned the fe-
male bosom.
| To person which in youth was very
attractive, to manners uncommonly pleas
ing, she added fine understanding, and
the sweetest temper which can accom-
pany just and modest sense of what
was due to herself.
| | saw her first the week she attained
the age of fourteen, and was greatly
pleased with her.
| Girls then came into company much
earlier than at present. As my attentions
though without any avowed purpose, nor
SO open and direct as to alarm, soon be-
came ardent and assiduous, her heart re-
ceiving an impression which could never
be etfaced. Having felt no prior attach
ment, she became at sixteen a most de-
| voted wife. All my faults-and they
were too many-could never weaken this
sentiment. 1t formed a part Of her exis-
tence. Her judgment was so sound and
so safe that have often relied upon it in
situations of some perplexity. I do not
remember ever to have regretted the
adoption of her opinion. I have some
times regretted it's rejection.
From native timidity she was opposed
to everything adventurous, yet few fe-
males possessed more real frmness.
The timidity so influenced her manners
that l could rarely prevail Oh her TO dis
play in company the talents knew her
| 70 Tkap fo ha,
husband and her select friends. Though
serious as well as gentle in her deport-
ment, she possessed good deal of chaste,
delicate, and playful wit, and if she per-
mitted herself to indulge this talent, told
her little story with grace, and could
mimic very successfully the peculiarities
of the person who was its object.
She had fine taste for belle-lettre
reading, which was judiciously applied
in the selection of pieces she admired.
This quality, by improving her talents
for conversation, contributed not incon-
siderably to make her most desirable
and agreeable companion. 1t bcguiled
many of those winter evenings during
which her protracted ill health and her
| feeble nervous system confined us entire
ly to each other. | can never cease to
look back on them with deep interest and
regret. Time has not diminished, and
will not diminish this interest and this
regret.
In all the relations of life she was a
model which those to whom it was given
can not initiate too closely. AS the wife,
the mother, the mistress of family, and
the friend, her life furnished an example
to those who could observe intimately
which will not be forgotten. She felt
deeply the distress of others, and indulg-
ed the feeling literally on objects she be-
lieved to be metitorious.
She was educated with profound rev.
erence for religion, which she preserved
to her last moment. This sentiment
among her earliest and deepest impress
sions gave character to her whole Ii Re.
Hers was the religion taught by the Saw
Jour of man. She was cheerful, mild,
benevolent, serious, humane, intent on
self-improvement and the improvement
of those who looked to her for precept
or example. She was firm believer in
the faith inculcated by the Church in
which she was bred, but her soft and
gentle temper was incapable of adopting
the gloomy and austere dogmas which
some of its professors have sought to in
graft on it.
l have lost her, and with her l have
lost the solace of my life. Yet she re-
mains still the companion of my retired
hours, still occupies my inmost bosom.
When alone and unemployed, my mind
increasingly recurs to her.
More than thousand times since the
25th of December, 1881, have repeated
to myself the beautiful lines written by
Burgoyne under similar atfiicton, sub
shutting Mary for Anna:
Encompassed in an angels frame
An angels virtues lay;
How soon did Heaven assert its claim,
And take its own away
"My Mary's worth, my Mary's charms,
Can never never IL0re return,
What now shall fill these widowed arms?
All me my Mary's urn
All me all me my Mary's urn"