Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-25

Mary Louise TAFT, wife OF Prot. L. A. Austin,
was born at Bennington, VT, Nov. 20, 1887, and
daughter OF Dea. Z. S. Taft, highly respected
citizen OF Bennington, and granddaughter OF
Dea Enoch w inslow, direct descendant of
Edward WinslOw. the foreign agent and
thrice.elected governor OF the Plymouth col
ony. Thus she could boast that some OF the
best Puritan blood flowed in her veins. Her
pious ancestry revealed itself in her own lite,
when mt the age OF eight years she became Il
devoted Christian and at ten united with the
church of God.
In her twenty second year she married Lew
Is "A. Austin and thereafter was his faithful
companion and helpmate in his various fields
OF labor as teacher and pastor During the
first year of her welded life she not only per.
formed the usual duties OF home concern, but
also assisted her husband in his school work
by giving instruction in piano music. Her
services in this department OF ornamental ed
ucation were in demand for many years,
either as teacher or performer. In the differ
ent places OF their residence, AS JOnesville, y.
y, Meriden. n. H., Winter Park, Fla, Orwell,
Manchester and Middlebury, VT, she always
became useful member of the church,
and generally taught II class in the Sabbath
school, and was ready tor every good work.
As president OF church societies she was
faithful and efficient. Mrs. Austin was not a
so'called society woman. She was naturally
timid and shrank from the more public aven
ues that many ladies seek. She was ardently
domestic in her temperament and taste. Her
home was her kingdom and there as wife and
mother she was happy, devoted and satisfied.
No one ever came to know her home without
feeling that it was guided by a kindhearted
and sweet-spirited woman, whose ambitions
were largely realized in the domestic circle.
While her ability to do was considerable, yet
such was her timidity that she allowed herself
to be sought for, rather than obtrude herself on
public notice. But in every community where
she lived she became the center of choice
company OF sincere friends, who priced her
very highly. She was quiet, gentle, true
hearted Christian lady. Perhaps the most
striking features OF her character were devel-
| Oped during the last months of her lite Like
Master, become through
fering." She surprised her most intimate
friends in the new revelations. which came to
them as they saw her endure pain and meet
death in undsturbed serenity. Her shrinking
nature become so tempered that she had not
tremor when all about her were distressed
and excited. Her room, in the kind home OF
DR.. Eddy, during the last weeks of her life,
became sanctuary. Prayer and praise and
holy words were constantly on her lips From
the sick chamber she sent various messages
of love to friends and neighbOrs, desiring
them to be faithful to Jesus. THE peace OF
God that passeth all understanding, kept her
heart and mind" She consciously rested in
the arms OF her Saviour. She believed and
felt that "nothing could separate her from the
love OF God, which was in Christ Jesus, her
Lord" She repeated with serene confidence
the stanza of Whittier's Eternal Goodness"
And so beside the silent sea,
wait the mui1led oar;
No harm from Him can come to me,
on ocean or on shore.
| When the weary struggle was nearly over,
she said one day
"Jesus can make dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast lean my head,
And breathe my lite out sweetly there"
Her desires for her family were many, es.
pecially tor her only child. 1t was her fond
hope to see him fairly started in lite. When
she saw this would not be, then she hoped to
see him gradu tie from her husbands Anna
Mater. But as this pleasure seemed to vanish
SIZE said, 1.-THE will OF the Lord be done. My
Father knows best. II is all right" This was
her testimony in the presence OF the death
angel, "Precious Jesus! He will not let me
go alone, He is with me all the time. 1t is so
good to lie in his arms" Hers was n Christ
ians death-calm peaceful, triumphant
"Thanks be to God which giveth us the vic
tory through our Lord Jesus Christ" Such a
test and demonstration of the gospels power
are worth volumes OF written evidence. The
funeral services were held last sunday, at the
home of DR.. Eddy, where the deceased had
been for several months under medical care
The body WAS buried on Monday in Benning
ton by the side OF n fond mother. Mrs. Aus
tins only child, n member OF the senior class
in our college, her bereaved husband anC
aged, lonely father have the fullest sympathy
of many friends. L. q. Il.
: Middlebury, VT, Jan. %, 1883.