The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-30

visited and relieved poore sick people.
She was strict in her devotions, re-
cesses and HASTINGS on Fridays and in
Lent, and spent much of that and other
time in working for the poore, and all
this without superstitious usages or the
least moroseness."
Her biographer speaks of her diligent
study of the Scriptures and of other de-
vout and learned books. He says that
she was always the first in the chapel
in winter before daybreak, and that she
would often slip away to pray in private
in order to avoid the idle discourse of
the ante. chambers. In doing all this
she did not appear the least singular or
austere, but was of easy manners, cheer
full and social in her intercourse and
was universally beloved.
She was most generous and obliging,
scarcely a day passing in which she did
not perform some signal kindness. Her
daily charities were indeed wonderful,
when we consider her small income and
the temptations in her circumstances
to spend it all upon herself. Evelyn,
who was her friend, at times chided
her for her profuseness, as he termed it,,
at which she would only smile and bid
him take no care. He mentions her
having " a list of twenty-three persons
whom she clothed at one time" She
made the acquaintance of pious widow
whom she employed to inform her of
sick and needy people, distribute
weekly pensions, look after orphans
and put them in school. Margaret also
released from prison above thirty per-
sons confined for debt; and so much
did she delight in all charitable works
as often to " slipp away from the great
est entertainments and greatest persons
of the court to make stepp to some
poore sickle creature in some meane
cottage, and then return as cheerful as
if she had been about some worldly con-
cerne."
Margaret remained ten years at court
and though she fulfilled the duties OF
her position with fidelity and grace
peculiar to herself, she was weary OF
the mouotonous round and sighed fol
repose. The glitter of court did no.
dazzle her, and there was no satisfac'
ton in her heart in the performance Of
the duties that were imposed upon her
The queen long refused to consent t.
her retirement, but becoming satisfied
that the happiness of the young cir
was at stake, Catherine at length gave
her permission to withdraw from court
During her service as maid of honor
Margaret had formed an attachment
for Mr.. Sydney Godolphin, an excel
lent young man, who afterwards became
the distinguished earl and statesman
Two years after her retirement the tw'
were united in marriage, Margaret be
ing then in her twenty-lifth year.
Mrs. Godolphin's married life was
very happy one. She was an eXcellen
housekeeper, but though her world
cares were increased, she still foun,
time for the exercise of her charitie
and for study and self-eXamination
Her husband highly valued her advic
and opinion, and "never lived two pei
sons in more peace and harmony.
This blissful union was broken at tn
end of year by the death of the nobl
wife and mother, who fell a victim t.
fever in the twenty-siXth year of he
age-September 8, 1918.
"Oh, unparalleled lossh eXclaim
Evelyn, 4" by me never to be forgotten
never to be overcome"
Her husband was so overwhelmed b
her loss that he lay for hours in swoo
that resembled death. His sorrow wa
deep and lasting. During a long an
prosperous life he never married again
The young maid of honor was burie
in Breague church, in the parish c
Godolphin, in Cornwall, where her hu'
bands family had been planted from
time anterior to the Norman conquest
Fred MyrOn Colby.