The Washington critic., 1885-10-06
ALBERT PIXIES RELIGION.

His Letter of Consolation to n Friend
on His Dcathbed.
The Fort Smith (Ark.) Tribune pub
lishes the following pathetic letter
written by Gen. Albert Pike of this city
TO DR.. Thurston of Van Buren, and re-
ceiyed by the latter the day before he
died:
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 1885.
Ny DEAREST AND BEST AND rRUEsT OLD
FRIEND: ! have just received your loving
message sent to me by Mr.. Sandes. had
already two days ago learned from our old
friend Cush, who had the information from
James Stewart, that you were about to 90
away from us. In little while sha II fol
low you and 1t will be well for me If | eau
look forward to the departure, inevitable
for all, with the same patience and equa-
nmity with which you are waiting for It.
do not believe that our intellect and in
diyiduality cease to be when the vitality of
the body ends. have profound convic-
ton, the only real revelation, which to me
makes absolute certainty, that there is n
Supreme Deity, the Intelligence and Lord
Of the universe, to whom 1t is not folly to
pray. That our convictions come from
Him, and in them He does not lie to or de-
ceive us; and that there is to be for my
this life will be as If it had never been, but
shall see and know again those whom
have loved and lost here.
You have led an upright, harmless, and
blameless life, always doing good and not
wrong and evil. You have enjoyed the
harmless pleasures Of life and have never
woaried of it, nor thought 1t had not been a
life worth living. Therefore you need not
fear to meet whatever lies beyond the veil
ta oil 10 In
and merciful God, who will deal gently
and tenderly with the human creatures
whom he has made so weak and so imper-
feet.
There is nothing in the future for you to
fear, as there is nothing in the past to be
ashamed of. Since have been compelled
by the lenthening of the evening shadows
to look forward to my own nearly approach
ing departure, ] do not feel that lose the
friends who go away before me. 1t is as If
they had set sail across the Atlantic sea to
land in an unknown country beyond, whittier
/ soon shall follow to meet them again.
But, dear old friend, | shall feel very
lonely after you are gone. We have been
friends so long, without u moments inter
mission, without even one little cloud or
shadow of unkindness or suspicion coming
between us, that shall miss you terribly.
] shall never have the heart to visit Van
Buren again. There are Others whom | like
there, but none so dear to me as you-none
there or anywhere else. AS long as | live
shall remember with loving affection your
ways and looks and words, our glad days
passed together in the woods, your many
acts Of kindness, the old home and the
shade Of the mulberries, and an intimate
communion and intercourse during more
than 40 years.
hoped to be with you once more in the
woods, but now shall never be in camp in
the woods again. The old friends are nearly
all gone; you are going sooner than | to
meet them. ] shall live little longer, with
little left to live for loving your memory,
and loving the wife and daughter, who have
been so dear to you. Dear, dear old friend,
good-by! May our Father who is in Heaven
have you in His holy keeping and give yon
eternal rest. Deyotedly your friend,
ALBERT PIKE.