Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-19
MISS rIRaISfA SPOTS WooD.
A Life Astounding an Good Deeds
A Graceful Tribute 10 q Noble

woman.
The late Miss Virginia spottswood, died in
the city Of New York on Sunday evening, the
eth day OF June, 1880, near the hour OF O'clock.
On Monday her remains were brought by low
Ing hands to her home In the city OF New
Castle, Dol, where she had lived from her
childhood. Upon the following Wednesday,
about o'clock in the afternoon, after solemn
and impressive services at the house, sur
rounded by those who were most near and
dear to her, and in The presence Of many sym
plthizing friends, she was aid to rest. in the
presbyterian Cemetery: there u await the
dawning of he morning OF the general resur-
rectiOn. That day seems different IN mo from
every other dny, and the light not OF tho same
col r--nf sHdder color.
The life and character OF this dear friend was
30 eS inplnrS 20 tull Of love and lnseiiiSh-
ness, SO tndeliby marked by good deeds and
benevolenue. and so intimately connected with
tue welfare and happiness OF many people
oil this community, that 1t is not only prope !,
but our duty 10 make some public menti. n Of
them, that they may live after her AMI he
emnlated by those whom she has left behind
rage after page might he written of the in
estlmabie worth and nobeno4s Of this good
se!i-sacliilcing, kind and ienderhsarted hris-
ttan woman. In all the avenues OF life, in
winch she walked, her qlitk and active step
was ever seen benz upon some mission of love,
sympathy, DcnovoienCo or Christianity.
ltehNen seemed to hitye selected her as one of
rs chief lnstru nents for dispensing good; so
ceaseltss and nntiring were her effort and 90
rich III ihoir results. Many die and others step
in and takc their places. Can any one tnke
her place? DO what she did AMI rs size did it9
Can the vacancy she has made he llIed! Per-
maps so II may 10 others. 10 tn 80 VINO wrre
acquainted with her Individually; to those vino
would look only NJ tbs act done AMI ignore or
forget the dorran the manner Of doing. But
10 those who know her well and we're near her
whose lives were intermlnglcd with hers
and felt the pure mOtves which prompted her
every action, aud saw the modest
love, without show or parade; TO those
who were the direct and personal recipients OF
her love and charity and Christian COUNSEL 10
the children whom she so deyOLcdly loved and
delighted To guide into tho ways OF Col, and
who IN turn 40 loved her; to the church. the
sundny-school mud the various hriatian soce-
ties connected thcrewtth-the Christian Eu-
deavor, the Kings Daughters, the Little Mis-
sion BHnd-'tohll of these and more the vacancy
VIII ever sadly remain. IL Hunot he filed.
There may. and doubtless will he others 10
perform, well aud efficiently, the ministerial
duties which she t.ok upon herself hut the
personnel, the look, the smile, the voice, the
grasp OF the hand, the mode OF doing, all
peculiarly her own, are gone forever, together
with "iler little, nameie-s, aforementioned
acts OF kindness and 10y y To do good was
50 natura' tp her. She loved it and seemed
impatient when not 81 engaged.
Tho stofeptyped expression, That ''she will
be missed. TAILS far short in EXPRESSING the
lnsa which hcr death has orcasioned: not only
| in the home She made so cheerful and brirhf,
not on IN the hearts of hose, who though not
sheltered ny the same roof; always recriyad
ler with oIcn arms Of love; not only In the
church and Sunday-srhoOl, hut in those many,
many homes among tho poor and needy aud
distressed, where 2 he was ever found and ever
went 10 lend "A helping hand. Thank God for
the sweet memorv Of her, which survives it
fondly fingers with us, "Lingers AS the twilight
fingers when the sun Is set"
Her liie Is a Lesson to us NIL. II Ia a bright
and encouraging example, and touches US that
II Is not 20 inuch the length OF our days az ihe
work done IN them and theinnuonces we leave
behind us, whom the Great Giver Of Life calls
u 10 tho activities Of that grnnder sphere of
promise, that constitutes true living here.
She died AS sue had faithfully lived Tor many
years, Christian; inll of the more precious
hopes thnt lie beyond the grave Such a death
gives to humanity its proper dignity. OF one
VINO SO dies may we not eXclaim:
on Death where In thy Htingg
Oh, Grave! where is thy victory
A.Bc.
NEW CASTLE, DEL, June 10th, 1890