Smyrna times., 1886-10-13
Death of Mrs. M. A. Cummins.

Mrs. Martha A, Cummns died on
Thursday morning last, 7th inst, at
the residence of DIR. Jas. G. DiricksOn,
her sOn-in-law, at Berlin, Worcester
county, Md, in the 68th year of her
age. Her sickness had been long and
painful, and her death was not unex-
pected, but it came at last with shock
to her many friends. A bright life had
gone out and left a gloom in their
hearts, because with the varied quail
ties with which she was endowed, there
was no one to take her place. The
first indications of failure in health
came several years ago, in slight at
attacks of paralyses, but with one ex-
ceptiOn they we're not occasions of pro-
longed disability, until about two
years ago when the attack was more
severe and from which she never re-
covered her strength and free move
ment. Otherwise Mrs. Cummins had
the appearance of robust health, which
was further heightened by her youth
full demeanor, and cheerful elasticity of
spirit. The improvement from the
last attack was very different from the
others, and hoping change would be
beneficial, and at the solicitation of her
daughter, she went to visit her at
Berlin, three months ago, butinstead of
the hoped for change for the better, the
disease worked out its sure result rs
above stated. The final act of dissOlu-
ton was an attack of appoplexy,
twenty-seven hours before the "vital
spark" " was extinguished and the
Esprit took its flight" The remains
were brought to her home in this town,
and inferred on Saturday afternoon, in
st. Peters Episcopal Cemetery, fol
lowed by large circle of friends, the
Rev. DIR. Tullidge paying in his sermon
a just Snd beautiful tribute to the vir-
tues of the deceased and performing the
last sad rites at the grave.
Mrs. Cummins was the daughter Of
| Jacob Raymond and Eliza Blackiston
both being Of our old representative
families and held in high esteem. II
the year 1843 she was united in mar
riage with Daniel Cummins, who dice
in June 1861, from which time, will
her daughter, Eliza Blackiston, unit
she married, and with her son, ALFRED
Lee, until her death, she lived in tn,
/
Portable home from the date of he
widOwhOod. A few years after he
marriage and during the rectorship o
the Rev. Samuel T. Carpenter she be
came seriously impressed with the neces
sity of a religious life, Obtained tn
good for which she sought, was con
firmed in the year 1S4S, and her ad
herence to her faith and the churcl
were ever after a characteristic featur
of her life. The church made no call
that were not responded to by he
most literally, and no enterprise wa
proposed for its benefit that did no
find in her q ready advocate. TO pei
sons who did not come ip immediat
contact with her in the chuTch and Sc
cial circle, her chief distnguishin
characteristic was her clevePness, affa
bility of manner, easiness of approach
brightness of conversation, giving
charm to her society, and making he
a special favorite with the young
With these qualities was added anothe
on the more practical side of life, thg
, made it one of great usefulness. Pol
, sesssd of ample means, her religion
, nature and large heartedness-fOr sh
had ready ear for every call Of beI
r evidence or merey-made her an Q
moner of large part of her incom
: each year, never turning any applicaI
: away. It could truly be said of hi
i that her "left hand knew not whi
r her right did" 80 unOstentatiOusly an
yet so industriOusly was it at work
Q relieving tho wants of those in need {
! distress. Thus Lying, when the sha'
, Ows of death shut out from view III
+ so rounded in christian virtues an
4 the fglJ endowment Of gentle woman
( hood, it is not 10 be wondered at thi
{ the close of its mortal eEistepce is Q
q tended with more than usual mantle
q tatiOns Of regret.