The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-01-18
A Consistent Christian.

A Consistent Christian.
Orricy R. B. Hemmenway was tn
daughter Of George Brown, Esq, o
Pitlsfield, Maine, where she was borl
March l, 1918. She was very amiablt
by nature, a superior natural scholar
and much beloved by her schoolmates
and was an excellent school teacher
She become q Christian in her early
youth. lS4O she married John Hem
menway, of Fairtie ed, Maine. Sht
was a gifted poet. Two of her poem!
are in "The Poets of Maine" One o
them, "a Dream. that was not all
Dream" is called by the compiler O
the large volume, "Very beautiful, one
of the finest in the book"
She was firm friend of the gloriou:
cause of Peace and wrote ably in favol
of it in prose and poetry. She also
was active with her pen and in conver
sation for the good cause of Temper
ance. She was very industrious
woman with her hands in useful labor
She never made visits or calls on the
sabbath, and never was i'm a theatre, 8
circus, or a ball room, and never
wished to be. She was remarkably
plain and cheap in her dress, and
never wore any jewelry, except gold
ring, of the cost of two dollars
and fifty cents, placed on her fin
ger by the young man who became
her husband. She was an affec.
tiomate and faithful wife from her
bridal day till the last day of her
earthly existence, and believed that
true, conjugal love will firmly endure
in the deepest poverty. She remarked
with smiling countenance: ut Is
said, when poverty comes in at the
door love will fly out at the window,
but think poverty should unite hus-
band and wife more affectionately to-
gether."
She lived during her married life in
uine different neighborhoods, and al.
ways had all "good peighbors' all
around her, being herself always O
good neighbor.
She was good and kind mother,
and never did or said anything to vex
or humiliate or grieve her children.
And while keeping her place before
them with the sweet, calm dignity be-
coming a sensible and attectionate
mother, she always treated them as
her fellow rational and immortal
beings and she delighted to give
them proper honor, as well as the most
faithful care and the tenderest love.
She never fretted nor scOlded, and
never lost, her patience with her chill
dren. She was truly praying moth
er. Her oldest daughter says: my
first distinct recollection of my mother
is her taking me into her room and
praying with me. This was before l
understood the nature and object or
prayer, or had any true sense OF the
being and character of God. She
used then to tell me to pray for my
self" Her oldest son says: ,"Our
mother taught us that the chief end
and aim of our lives should be 10 90
good, and prepare for the life to come"
Mrs. Hemmenway tenderly loveo
all true Chrislians-.Calvinist Baptist,
Arminian Baptists, Congregatonallst
Friends, Methodist, etc.-and she had
from time to time the pleasure OF Wor-
shipping with them, and entertalng
them at her quiet home. She was
given to hospitality, and never denied
food or lodging to strangers, ana was
through her life very benevolent with
her little property.
She died in Brighton, Maine, De-
cember 7, 1878, in peace abounding. in
love. She observed one night, a few
months before her death, when IN her
usual slender health, "How good 1t Is
TO lie down at night and think you are
one day nearer to haven !' And yet
her friends were then many and very
dear to her, and she highly enjoyed
temporal things. and the world of ma
ture was beautiful in her eyes. she
was a very happy, cheerful Christian.
SELECTIONS FROM HER WRITINGS.
"In all we do let US strive to please
God. May we throw self aside, then
we shall not waste our goods in un-
necessary and vain show. May we
improve every opportunity OF doing
good to our fellow creatures"
"What great reason we have to bless
God for treasure which all are invited
to secure above tile power of time and
dea H."
"Pray for me, that I may have a
more earnest desire to ever live To
serve God, and do good as the law OF
love commands"
"Take care of yourself, and be happy
and do all the good YOU can"
"Let us do right aud be happy"
TRIBUTES TO Ter MEMORY.
Many tributes to her memory might
be given from many persons both men
and women, The following are from
twelve women:
|. "Her uniform kindness and
friendship in the far away days of my
youth has always been a bright spot.
and in encouragement and almost
despair it has sometimes helped ME to
remember that Mrs. Hemmenway
believed in me, and in the possibilities
before me. Of course, / judge the
belief largely by the helpful words OF
encouragement, and the interest
manifested in many ways"
2. ~ can find no words to express
my admiration of her character. l
CAN say that her example has awak-
ened stronger desire within me to be
a Christian than all sermons / ever
heard"
IL. .ro, {ho yao roct