The Press., 1889-01-03


 fellow men. He was fearless and ou'spoken in the utterance of his views, and though he i had to suffer at times for his boldness, yet to the credit of his people be it said they upheld their minister in his preaching of righteous ness.
 When he came to the place he was obliged to live three miles and half from the center, beyond the great Bigelow gulf hill, on toward the Woodstock line. Those were the happy years of childhood to me. Some pictures of the home scenes finger in memory yet, and no doubt they are gilded somewhat by the roseate hues of early dawn, of that time in life of which the poet sings:
 ''There was time when meadow, grove and stream,
 The earth and every common sight, | To me did seem }s=
 | Apparelled in celestial light,
 The glory and the freshness of 3 dream"
 Those were days of earnest work with him of hopeful activity, when he rode over . those hills to preach and visit his people, and hold meetings in all parts of the town, when the wood thrush sung and the squir- rel ran merrily along the fence, and again when the pathway shone with the glitter ing ice, and nanght was heard save the bowling of the wind and the creaking and moaning of the trees. He has told me how at one time his horse slipped down, and beast and rider slid promiscuously and alarmingly long distance down the hill. have also heard the widow of Dea. Paul Lawson, who still survives, tell how her husband and his pastor in time of a tsnow-storm would put shovel into the sleigh and start for the house of God on Sundays, sometimes obliged to dig their
 way, but getting to their destination to find but few, if any, but themselves pres ent to keep holy day.
 r The spring of 1S42 seemed to open aus.
 piciously. The pastor and his family had moved into tenement in nice house near
 by the sanctuary. The pastors wife was especially pleased to be near the house of
 the Lord. But how little we know the future. Suddenly, there came an event
 that left its shadow on the heart of the
 husband and father. Need say the scene
 was photographed indeiibly on the mind of the little boy who saw mother and sis
 ter dead and father motionless and speech.
 less The event is familiar how the light
 ming of heaven came down, and two were taken and two were left.
 We buried the mortal bodies ill one
 grave, and the marble slab that used te
 mark their resting place had graven on il , the hopeful thought of the husband and , father
 "For star difereth from another star in glory
 Loving and beloved in life, united in death, their hap
 py spirits went in company with the prince of peace 10 be forever with the LOrd."
 The language of my fathers heart anC of his conduct said was dumb because thou didst it. He wrote about the even I soon after, as published in the Home Missionary 'sThe unexpected blow pierc ed me to my very soul. But God, thank. , be to his name, immediately put under l meath me his everlasting arms and kept mt from sinking. He has since been my sup
 port and the joy of my heart. My com panion has been more than usually devoted j. to God the past year. We have spen !. many delightful seasons together in socia tiprayer besides around the family altar" Jan. 30, Is47, he married Eliza Ives, most estimable lady, whose life becam D thenceforth identified with the history o
 the parish. She was often in feeble health but woman of faith and prayer, and of : peculiar gift for managing the affairs of - household.
 s| She died of apoplexy May 31, 1865 : Quite beautifully, think, her husbant I said in his quarter century sermon: "Re
 gently the Master came again suddenly il l the moring and prostrated the other mem - Der, and in the evening gently called he a to himself, so that when she breathed he |, last radiance of glory played upon he
 
 e and know how easily and triumphant a one whom he loved might conquer deatl j. and enter into glory
 - In June 15, '66, Mir. Curtiss married again ], Mrs. (D. H. G. Curtiss) Deborah Curtiss U most excellent woman, who continued t be his helpmeet till he died March 2e Q 1880 His wife died about two years after Q 3S years and day after his first wife died Not long before he died I chanced t 5 remark to him that thought he woul l have been very successful had he turne d his attention to business. He replied
 ''I am not sorry that was not disobedien , unto the heavenly vision.''
 ], His parting with his wife, who was sic l, at the same time, was quite touching whe J she was drawn into his room in her chai
 to see him. Taking her hand in his, b 5 said, '[ have fought good fight; | hay finished my course; have kept the faith.
 Rev. J. P. Watson commenced to mir e ister to this people Jan. 1, 1875, and COT 5 tinued about years. The people gay .ii him call to settle with them as their pas ], tor, but he declined. He also, for reason e of his own, declined to receive aid fror e the Conn. Home Missionary Society. l. He was man of good mind, faithfr 0 and conscientious in the discharge of whs -s he thought to be his duty. The speake
 had but little personal acquaintance wit d him, although we have met each othe d several times, when he has called upo d me with ministry of sympathy in tn d hour of trial and of friendliness in othe g days.
 'e The aged pastor was sensibly touche 'I by his kindness when the former lay o ot his dying bed, and MT. Watson breathe s forth for him an ardent and tender praye He continued to engage in the work of th .s ministry, as he was able, in other place.
 especially in Wellfeet, Mass. He was i- member of the Boston Presbytery. B d died at Laconia, N. H., where he was el d gagged in eyangelistic work, Jan. p, 1SS a aged 60 years.
 D. In the spring of'187S the Providence B. God led me hither, and at your request It endeavored to break to you, the bread B. life for about the space of three years. e. was glad to serve you, and you scene t. glad to have me, and the Lord blessed | le both. It was bright spot in life on mar 10 accounts, though sickness and death ca :. at times heavy shadows. It was plea ,e ure to address you, to minister at the t q, ble of our Lord at times together with u 70 70 venerable and loved spiritual guide wi a had led us so long. It was privilege s. go with him as far as possible down in : the dark valley and see him safely throue | IL A~I ~A,.sG- .ko1 k1~