Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-01-12

roads furnish them an opportunity which
may be lost later in the season.
BURIAL OF AN AUGUSTA COUNT!
MISSIONARY In CHINA.
INTERESTING HISTORY OF HER LAST
HOURs-THE CHINESE FUNERAL-I
LETTER FROM THE BEREAvED HUs
BAND
&C.. &C. &C, sc.
The death at Hang Chow. China. Oct
2Sth, of the wife of Rev. Mark Hale Hous
ton, has been Published. Evelyn>C. Hous
ton was daughter of VIM Wlthrow Jr.
of Waynesboro in this county. She reach
ed womanhood with a highly cultured
mind to which was added the grace of a de
voted Christian life. She had been for some
years affian ced to Rev. M. FL. Houston, a
missionary to China, when in September
him. Rev. W. T. Richard, her pastor
who Was going to California, took her I'M
der his care to San Francisco and placed
her on board the Pacific steamer. Her flu
ture husband came to Yokohama, japan.
to meet her, and there at the house OF
their friends, Rev. Mr.. and Mrs. Ballagh,
they were married in October. In Novem-
Der she reached her new and stran~e home
in China. In 1874, Mr.. Houston being in
i'll health returned with his family to
Waynesboro. In four days after landing
in America they lost one of their two lit
tie boys by sickness. In May, 1881, Mr..
Houston's health being restored, he re.
turned with his family to China. The fol.
lowing letter from Mrs. Mary Horto
Stewart, formerly of Nashville, and now
missionary at Hang Chow, gives an in
teresting description of the funeral SER
vices-English and Chinese-over Mrs.
Houston's remains:
81 know you will be distressed with US
when you learn that dear Mrs Houston is
no more. When | closed my last letter to
YOU, | said that she was worse, but [ little
realized how on the end would come.
Even when | was writing those words. ste
was entering the valley of the shadow of
Death. She passed away at little past
one the next morning. All Use. the nurse,
and |, laid her out :he best we could. A
wooden box was ordered. as near the shape
of casket as possible, with q lid ON hinges
and IA lock ard key. so we had only to flo
ish it off. The outside Was covered with
black cloth, and the inside thickly wadded
with cotton covered over with pure white
silk. 1t had comfortable look about it,
and quite contrast to the dreadful look
ing cuffins used 10y the Chinese.
S.,l,t IN ~
transferred to the casket made wreath
of arbor vita and white China asters, and
a cross of the same, which lay on the coffin
until the last. The other ladies' also
brought flowers and wreaths. so hat the
table was quite filled at the funeral. and
the grave was literally covered with flow
ers, bright dahlias, China asters and YER
greens. a novel sight in this part of China.
Sabbath morning, at the regular service
in tie chapel, Mr.. Stuart preached a fnne-
raj sermon in Chm Sc, fl. M John II h,
the raising of Lac irus. At 2. M, the
foreigners assemble dc Mr. IL 3. house,
for the funeral service in English. which
was conducted ny Mr.. Stuart, assist ed by
Mr.. Painter. 1t vas very solemn and
touching, and We all felt tn t the loss was
our own. This was tile ii st foreign mis-
sionary ever buiird IN Haugchow. The
natives asked permission to have IA funeral
service in the chapel early Mo- day morn
ing, and said that they themselves wished
to bear the coffin, instead of giving it up
to coolies. So eight men, all church mem
bers, dressed i'll coarse white cluth, wi h
caps of the same, the Sign of mourning,
acted as pail be; rers, and bore the cotfin,
With the most tender respect, to the chap
Fl. There hey had draped The pulpit.
CHAIRS and table in white. and written in
front was: Though dead, she yet speak
eth" All the schoolgirls were dressed in
white, with white twiued IN the hair, and
all about the church one could $50 white
clothes or Its of White, put on in token
of mourning.
have never seen more sincere love and
respect shown TO the memory of any one,
even IN Christian land Mr. Houston
SAID he was much touched on hearing the
words of II ,spel- comic t from one, WHO in
early life, was d worshipper of idols. This
service concluded, the c. fin was slowly
our gentlemen and good number of Ma
tives, all walking. The ladies, with the
children and few Chine Sc won II, fol-
lowed in Sedan chairs. At the city gate.
we were Joined by number of the foreign
ers, il chairs or Walking. just outside the
gate, the procession got into two large
buats.tO cross the lake. On the other side,
the line of march was resumed for about
one and one-half miles, when we reached a
beautiful spot, euveloped in trees. which
Mr.. FL. had secured for the intermrnt
There are three terraces, on the middle of
which the grave is made. A short service
in Chinese concluded these sad duties to
the beloved friend we had lost. and then
the precious dust was committed to the
earth and buiied from our sight, till the
heavens BE- no MORE" With sorro wing
hearts we returned to our homes to take
I'D our work again. with diminished num-
bers, all smarting under the pam of this
heavy blow. 1t is indeed Il deSolate home
now, which Mrs. I'll. gladdened with her
presence, even during her ng illness.
Alb ut3 P. M, on the la day of her
life, when went into her rom. she ask
ed Wont you slug for me?' | said,
"what would you like p She replied i'm
mediately, 'Wh hitter than Snow" which
she had all along liked to hear. She seemed
gratified, aud this was the last earthly
music that fell on her ears. ia e in the
afternoon she took farewell If her little
children, WAC were brou yhJ to her bed
and it Was most touching sight. About
that time she noticed my little Warren
who had quietly slipped into the room,
and G died MIN by II una, IL coma to her.
She was perfectly nscious TO the last
Dreatp. ana noticed all that her husband
said to her; sometimes beautiful sm 10
coming over her taos. The breath gr-w
shorter and shorter, until shs was gone
so peacefully which we all felt reliev
ed, as we feared she would die in fit of
coughing The physician prom ,uneed her
disease cancer Of the stomach &c ,ntract-
ed before sha left An scic., W.c,uld III
say truly, blessed are the de Id, who die
in the Lord.''
LETTER FROM THE BEREAvED HUs.
BAND.
The following letter from Rev. M. H
Houston to 1.-The Missionary" gives som,
additional particulars of the last moment
of his wife:
HANGCHOW, OCT, 24TH. 1882.