The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-18
HAWTHORNE'S WIFE ON HIS
DEATH.

LIN
"a letter copied into Mrs. J. t. Fields daryl
Beloved: "When see that deserved
nothing, and that my Father gave me the
richest destiny for SO many years of time,
to which eternity is to be added, I am
struck dumb with an ecstacy of gratitude
and let go my mortal hold with an awful
submission and without a murmur. I
stand hushed into an ineffable peace
which 1 cannot measure nor understand.
1t therefore must be the peace which
"passeth all understanding" feel that
his Joy is such as :" the heart OF man can
not conceive" and ought not then to
rejoice, who loved him so far beyond my
self? IL did not at once share his beati
tude, should l be one with him now In
essential essence? Alb, thanks be to God,
who gives me this proof-beyond all pos
sible doubt-that we are not, and never
can be, divided If my faith has this test
is it not I" beyond the utmost scope and
vision of calamity?" Need 1 ever fear
again any possible dispensation if l can
stand serene when that presence is reft
ly die to lose?
Where, o God, is that supporting, in
spring, protecting, enhancing presence
which surrounded me with safety and
supreme content? at is with you, my
child" saith the Lord, sand seemeth
only to be gomez
"Yes, my Father, know have not
lost it, because I still live. will be
glad. THY will be DONE" From a
child have truly believed that God was
all -good and all-wise, and I felt assured
that no event could shake my belief.
To-day I know it. This is the whole.
No more can be asked of God. There
can be no death or loss for me forever
more. stand so far within the veil that
the light from Gods countenance can
never be hidden from me for one moment
of the eternal day, now nor then. God
gave me the rose of time, the blossom OF
the ages, to call my own for twenty five
years of human life. God has satisfied
wholly my Unsuitable heart with perfect
love that transcends my dreams. He has
decreed this earthly life a mere court of
"the house not made with hands eternal
in the heavens"
Oh, yes, dear heavenly Fstherl 1 will
be glad that my darling has suddenly es-
capped from the rude jars and hurts of
this outer court, and that when was not
aware an angel gently drew him within
the palace door that turned on noiseless
golden hinges-drew him in because he
was weary. God gave to his beloved
sleep, and then an awakening which will
require no more restoring slumber. AS
the dew drop holds the day, so my heart
holds the presence of the glorified, freed
spirit. He was so beautiful here chat he
will not need much change to become a
Shining one."
How easily I shall know him when my
children have done with mel And perhaps
the angel will draw me gently also within
the palace door, if I do not faint, but
truly live. "Thy will be DONE"
At that festival of life that we all cele-
brated last Monday, did not those myriad
little white lily bells ring in for him the
eternal year of peace as they clustered
and hung around the majestic temple in
which be once lived with God? They
rang out, too, that lovely incense that
can come only from lily, large or small.
What lovely ivory sculpture around the
edge! 1 saw it all, even at that breathless
moment, when / knew that all that was
visible was about to be shut out from me
for my future natural life 1 saw all the
beauty and the tropical gorgeousness of
odor that enriched the air from your
peerless wreath in Paradise We were
the new Adam and Eve again, and walked
in the garden sin the cool of the day." and
there was not yet death, only the voice of
the Lord. But, indeed, it seems to me
that now, again, there is no death. His
life has swallowed it up.
Do not fear for me "dark hours" 1
think there is nothing dark for me hence.
forth. 1 have to do only with the pres
emit, and the present is light and rest
Has not the everlasting
Morning spread
over me her rich surprised"
have no more to ask but that I may
be able to comfort all who mourn as am
comforted. II could bear all sorrow 1