The Portland daily press., 1885-03-13
A Good Life Ended.

Mr.. Nathaniel R. Mason of North CONWAY diaa
very suddenly OF pneumonia, Saturday. March 7th
aged 20 years. - ''-''
A good man has gone away forever from the little
mountain village and one whose absence will make
familiar places seem to lack something of comfort
and pleassntness to not a few. Although he had
lived out the number of days allotted to man, no
one thought Of him as old. SO brisk and energetic
and fresh in bis looks as he was. And years had
not chilled the gentle warmth and kindness of his
heart. To him, every person in North Conway was
his neighbor, and he probably had not an enemy.
man of few words, of natural gentle dignity and
reserve not many possessed the confidence of their
5ell9w @ etlzens to the degree that he possessed it.
sau one OF hls neghbors to the Rev. Mr.. Pratt
about the time of Mr.. Mason's death: ''If mad
not dollar in the world, and my family needy
could go to him and state my case and k7sotD
that he would help me- whether / could
ever pay him or not" And every
felt this; yet he would nave honestly diselain
ed the idea that he was specially bensyosnt AZ
quiet and unpretentious was he in ali his speech
and ways and doings. Not particularly public
spirited in the sense that people the phrase-or
we are apt to think Of those as most pubicsprited
who make themselves most prominent and conspi-
euous IN all needed moyements-he could always be
reied on Tor substantial aid in any good cause and
to do his part in his own modest way.
DE constantly attended the Congregational
enureh, though he was never formally admitted to
It's membership; but his life was that OF a sincere
CONSISTENT Christian, bearing fruit daily of good
words and deeds; thinking evil, speaking evil Of no
OAli man VI pTdySTs a great reader of the Ribla
and one who had profound faith in its promises and
found mis- delight in them. After his death his
worn, old English Prayer Book was found with the
lear turned down to mark prayer he valued high
ly and had made his own, and whose meaning seems
characteristics of his manner Of thought and aspra-
hon-the prayer for the second Sunday in Lent.
Mr.. Mason was born in North Conway, and his
me- was spent almost uninterruptedly there. Left
fatherless when very young he had his own way to
make In the world, and he succeeded we'll. He
Duilt and for number of years kept Of the
first class hotels ON this side of the mountains, the
North Conway House. OF late years his business
has been mostly in connection With his store a
country village store, with many and diverse de-
partments, supplying th9 inhabitants with Whatever
might be needed in any of them. He was unm-
peachable in integrity diligent and prompt in his
business and thoroughly to be relied upon. Though
good man has gone to his reward the time Il ssd
when We no longer anywhere can see the familiar
figure and the DEAR kind, old face with its genfIe
smile and sure, sympathetic expression that needad
no words to tell its meaning and premise.
His wife died July 3. 1851, and his oldest sor r
H. Mason, died two years ago. Two sons are Ian
+. L. Mason, who has for several wears hean essos
ated with his father in business, and NJ L. Mason
The funeral services were held in tha Congraga
tlonal Church on Wednesday, the llth Tbs Rs~
NJ MI osol9ss sp9AS Leenngy and approximately OF
nr. Masons hlgh character and worth and Rev Mr.
Pratt related Wsh what unfinchinpl Christian conr
age and perfect faith he drew near his and Ths
s;tj ~ ~ pa ~oee anu heV. MIR. Tinker also as
There is sad coincidence in MIR. Mason,s death
anu tnaI Of the late Mr.. Robert Douglass of Port
M Ianu. Ihey mad been friends for a great MANY
years, entertaining mutual liking and resnsct
Sna1 nao resulted from both eongeniaity and long
i ano trustea us business relations. They used some
ttSs W " sunday, when Mr.. Douglass was in town,
70 attend church together. About two weeks ago
Mnen @ nlI' douglass was making hs regular business
ZIP ana they We're both well and strong he said to
MI; Mason, You and hold out wonderfully to-
gether!, But Mr.. Douglass never lived to reach
died of pneumonia. -
His family met with loss that can never be made
up 70 them, when MIR. Mason died. The wise cOun-
seHor the kind and gentle forbearing and affection
ste Iather and friend was taken away. His neigh
DORIS and fellow ciIizens have lost good citizen and
kina neighbor, but he has left all that best Of
iegaeies, the memory Of good man. e. NJ. NJ,