Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-02
A GOOD WOMAN.
Death of Mrs. c. A. Chamberlain. tn
Poetcss.


her native State, in the last quarter of a
century. Mrs. Chamberlain had been q
patient sufferer for twenty years. In all that
time she never knew day, scarce an hour,
free from pain. Yet she was ALWAYS the
same aEiable. cheerful patient woman,
drawing'even from her own sufferings con-
ISOLATION for others. The day of her death
though none believed the end so near-she
conversed calmly, uncomplainingly, eff the
approach of death, and attempted to con-
sole her daughter by the argument that
she could so much better discharge her
duty to those dependent upon her for guild
ance, if relieved of the care of her mother
by death. Il would like to live ten years
longer, to see the grandchildren started
wei, in life; for that l would will
ugly endure ten years more of pain,
bat 1t is better for all others that
go" were among her last words TO q
close friend. Mrs. Chamberlain came to
California IN 1859, her husband, W. E.
| Chamberlain, well-known and esteemed
citizen, having preceded her in 1919. She
was a native of Searsport, Maine, on the
Penobscot river and bay. Soon after her
marriage she went with her husband to
Oxford, Ohio, thereafter to Terre Haute,
Ind, and from thence TO California. She
was a hOLIdi VI DsdIb6ltcS llIe, pure DuT-
poses, hopeful spirit ard warm affections.
She was of a reverent spirit, always recog-
nizing accountability to the Supreme Being
and at all times deeply impressed
with the weight and solemnitv OF
her duty to the human race
In her days of ability to engage in active
affairs, she was foremost in good works
| and public.spirited movements. She was
gentle, charitable in judgment end of a
| sympathetic nature, and thus had the love
| and esteem of very wide circle of friends,
| and in her family inspired respect and the
sincerest and devoted affection of her
| children.
For over thirty years she has been con.
tr1butor TO the press of the State the most
| of her poems appearing, however, in the
Sacramento press. To this paper more
than any other she sent her poems, the last
| she ever wrote appearing in these columns
the theme being Love the Hope for
Earth" In 1858 she published from the
press of Ward d Taylor, Cincinnati, Ohio
| volume of poems OF over 200 pages, many
of which are of superior merit
In later years she had nearly completed
| a second volume, to include all her works
| except such earlier poems as her matured
| judgment rejected. Her style was simple
her methods direct, and her subjects dealt
wholly with the better and loftier aspira.
| tons. She possessed the poetic spirit in a
| high degree. Poetic expression seemed to
| her the Hottest and most patent means OF
| address. She wrote with little or no effort
| apparently, and it is evident from all her
works that her thought constantly outran
and crippled her expression. Neverthe-
less, while in most of her poems there are
| evidences of lack of finish, their sterline
| merits of naturalness, sincerity, freshness
| were always recognized, and their sim
| plicity, purity, and the spirit of love and
| reverence and human sympathy breathing
! through them, commended them to the
reader, and made her lines always wei
| come. During the thirty or more years in
| which she contributed to the California
| press her verses were always approved
and we do not know OF any instance of
rejection.
From one of her poems in this journal,
entitled - Earih's Gifts For ALL" we quote
a few lines. After recording her concep-
| ton OF heavens blue canopy and the lesson
1t taught her-that it meant existence be-
yond this grasping, narrow life Of man u
The poet sees the struggles of the millions
| OF earth after varied prizes, and exclaims
Measur'd for them earth's feast outspread.
| Measur'd the dear light overhead,
MeasUr' bleSt freedom, beauty song
But measurelesS their woe and wrong
1 see the royal purple dyed
In their cIushed hearts warm flowing tide:
| see earths gorgeous, glittering thrones
Rise Ger their white, unheeded bones.
| What if heavens blissful arch should seem
| Der these in mockery to beam?
If plenty, beauty, song and love
Should only seem their wrongs to prove?
Denying that men are not loftier tnan
| their seeming lot, and claiming natures
| best Tor all, the singer continues
| For all the odorous airs soft flow.
For all the blossoms breath and glow
For all earths beauty, love and song
For none the shadow or the wrong.
But she realizes that this is as she wouid
| have the world, and that, in truth, while
| the gifts are for all, injustice intervenes:
| turn, and meath the broad heavens glow.
sign o, Earth, it might be so
And stranger than my dream to me
! Seems life's strange reality.
| At the close of the great food. when
most of Sacramento had been partly under
water, a young girl, as the waters receded
| and the hot sands baked in the sun, man
| aged to secure few flowers and brought
them to her, whereupon she returned q
poem, III which the thought OF song and
speech in all things creep IN:
| Coming in gladness, in the morris fresh light
Singing pleasant melody and low,
| With hands all tilrd with blossoms sweet and
| bright
That may be singing too for aught we know
! Only so low-so very low their strain
That to the eGrth-toned ear they sing in vain
! Wondering how at such a time wild
| flowers could be cleaned in such a scene oi
| desOlauOn, she reflected that flowers bloom
." for loves sweet sake" and couples the
| thought with delicate compliment to her
young friend:
| For this-for this in radiant groups they rise
| In barren ways, i'll places lone and wide
| With beckoning looks that won the wearied
Fair stars of hope amidst the solitude!
All. Floy, cen as these blossoms shed their raw
so falls thy smile upon the weary way.
1t is difficult now to search our files and
| select examples of Mrs. Chamberlain's
work for presentation in less than fullness
| We choose one, however. written in Nav
1872 IN the midst of her pain and suffering
entitled,
| HEART AND SOUL
%, lowly heart, how close thy tendrils cling
| To earth's dear breast!
| How fond their clasp around the loveliest thioe
| On which thy love may rest!
Thy hopes fond trust
| Sets its sweet blossoms in earth's common dust
Earth lowliest waste, to thee,
Is home, is heaven, if there thy love may be.
| lis much to dare to live, oh fond, brave heart
| Close 20 this sorrowing sphere
| To be of all its suffering life part
| And feel that earth is dear.
lis much to live through love;
| lis much on earth-who knows if more above
| o. soul, hast thou q fear
| Of the fond, clinging heart, to earth so near?
For earth S passing picture in the sight,
| With regal scon
| Thou dost o er sweep, in thy imperial flight
| The pinions of the morn;
Thy subtle flame
| Makes all the splendor of the midday tame;
thou drink st the stars, and still
! The countless host cannot thy vision fill.
90. chainless SOUL the heart for thee doth fear,
| In thy farreaching bliss
| What If the fruitage of times golden year
Awaits thy ripening kiss
What if earth's fullest creed
Begins and ends with one word to plead
To the Great Heart above?
| Aye, what If God were mostly God through
love?"
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
State Engineer Hall is in the city
Major Marion Biggs, Jr.,i in town.
j. P. Brissell, of Milwaukee, is visiting A
.