The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-05


terrlfes the mind of the beholder but what Ia
the glow of the the sheen of the other to
the daily spreading warmth and plenty and
beauty over the hahltations of man! lie was the
sun of our plenty. the ocean of our wealth ana
the Polar star, shining calmly and steadily IN the
heavens of our republic.
Such solid, sturdy character becomes our ge-
ograpby. and institutions and our destiny. sell
government calls upon the judgment TO coniroI
the imagination; to ambition to submit TO queen
~ modesty: to adventure to bow to prudence;
to justice to hold in subsection political wrong;
to virtue to dominate every vice III seems 10 oe
with us a national tradition that only men OF
solid virtues shall be raised to supreme position
In our republic.
Our greatest vet with least pretense
Greet in council and great in WAT
Foremost captain OF his time,
Rich ia saving common sense.
And. as the greatest only are,
In his simplicity sublime.
AS he was the typical American, should we be
surprised to find hat his was the typical Amerl-
can home! May we lift the curtain and look
upon the holy privacy of that once unbroken
household Oh, the mutual and reciprocal love
of welded life within those sacred precincts.
Husband and wife the happy supplement of
each other their characters blending in sweetest
harmony like the blended coors in the bow of
promise. he, strength, dignity ana cour-
age: she, gentleHess grace and purity.
He, the doric column to sustain; she, the
Corinthian column to beautify. He, the oak to
support; She ivy TO entwine. In their lite of
deathless love, their happiness lay like an ocean
of pearls and diamonds in the embrace of the
future He unhappy without her presence: she,
desolatc without his society. 10, pure, hlgn-
minded, discriminating, ardel. loving. lntelll-
gent: he confided to her his lnDt most soul ana
blessed her with his best unfalllng love 0he
shared his trials and his triumphs his sorrows
and his Joys; his tolls and his rewards. how
tender was that scene, in the early dawn of that
April day. when all thought the long-eXpected
end had come, ne gave her his watch and tender
IL caressed her hand II was all the great soldier
had to give to his wife of his youth. And the
dying hero whispered: Il did not have you wait
upon me, because | knew it would distress You:
but now the end draws Ugh" And out from the
dwellings of Jordan" he rushed back to the
shore Of life to write this tender message to his
son: Wherever | am buried, promise me that
your mother shall be buried by my side 1t is
all wife could ask; it is all husband could
wish.
Lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in
their death they shall not be divided
Side by side they shall sleep in the same tomb,
and she shall share with him whatever homage
future ages shall pay at his Nations shrine.
1t was his love for her that lifted his intellect
above the ceaseleSs fortunes of a malignant dis
ease and threw oblivion the sense of excru-
ciating pain that he might write his Personal
Memoirs" that she should not want when he was
gone.
not Of himself, but of her. To his son he said;
Il hope mother will bear up bravey" To quiet
her anxiety he wrote: do as do; take 1t
quietly / give myself not the least concern. If
] knew the end was to be tomorrow, L would
try just as hard to get rest in the meantime"
Would she keep holy vieils through the iiveiong
night2 He wrote to her: "Go to sleep and feel
happy; that is what | want to do ana am going
to try for | am happy when out OF pain Con
slider how happy you ought TO be- Good night
Did she seek to divert his mind from his
sufferrgs by recalling the victories of the past!
He replied This is the anniversary of the
LnX@i e alr-I, 4I.o%T TO- had mot
thought of il before 1t has been an important
anniversary to US on two other occasions-one
when only daughter was born and suisse
quent to Nicksburg when we had a grandson
born on that day"
Was hers Iaudable desire that the forthcom-
ing Memories should be inscribed to her. Yet
she surrendered her claim to the magnanimity
that inspired him TO write: cit is a great deal
better that it should be dedicated it is.
made what reputation L have as a soldier. The
troops engaged on both sides are yet living. AS
it the dedication is to those we fought against,
well as those we fought with 1t may servea
purpose in restoring harmony If it does, tits of
more Importance than to crafty little vanity.
You will die; it is hoped the book will live. AT
ter you and the soldiers who fought are all
gone, the dedication will have more value than
now"
And such was the tenderness of his love and
socitudo for her and hers he surprised her by
a letter found after his death 1t came as a
message to her from him after he had gone.
When his spirit had returned to the God who
gave it, there was found secreted in his robe his
letter to her. enveloped, sealed and addressed.
He had written it betimes: written it secretly,
and carried the sacred missive day after day
during fourteen days, knowing that she would
ind 1t at last In it he poured forth his soul in
love for her and solicitude for her children:
Look after our dear children and direct them in
the paths of rectitude. 1t would distress me far
to think that of them could depart from
honorable upright and virtuous life than it would to
OF
from which they never to arise alive: They have
never given any cause for alarm ON their account,
md earnestly pray they never will.
With these few iniunctons and the knowledge
have OF your love and affection and of the dutful
affection of all children, bid you final farewell
You will find this my person after my demise.
Mt McGREGoR, July g. 1855.
And who should marvel that in home of
such parentage, that parental love and fial
affection should reign supreme.
Honor thy father and thy mother" was in
perpetual obedience there O. what reverence
for that honored fathefShown by those devoted
and that precious daughter o. what bliss
full love they manifest for that dear mother, to-
day widow What pure delight in each others
company; what mutual pride in each other S
future welfare. And while all honor Is due to
each child OF the departed for love. devotion and
anxiety. and now for grief; yet the American
people will never forget the seepless nights, the
ceaseees vigils by day, the profound Difference.
the tender caresses. the deathless love. of his
first born son, whose manly heart was crushed
when his father died. Such home is worthy to
be called American home. Give us such
homes for purity, love aud JOY, and our Republic
shall live forever If such was his character
such his life, such his home, what were the con
solutions that sustained him in sickness and
cheered him in DEATH Was life to him 'wa.kinc
shadow and death endless dream! Was his
ealmness IN suffering born of stoiCal philosophy
inspired by Christian fortitude? Were his
love and hope limited by earth and time,
or destined to live forever! Reared in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and baptized in his
last illness 10y one of her minister's his religious
nature was sincere, calm and SIT adfast The
principles of humanity were deeply ensrafted
upon his spirit Firm, but never demons trative.
he was not man of religious pretense His
life Was his profession. He knew that Christian
ity had nothing to gain from him beyond the