Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-04-17
Mrs. Abiah Blake.


suffering had been intense and prolonged
yet she was uniformly cheerful and re,
signed. Four sons survive her, Charles
L. OF Los Angeles, Cal. general agent OF
Wood Harvester Co.; Harry W. of Chi.
cago, His, assistant manager of the
same company at that place; Edward S
OF Fargo, No. Dakota, general manager
OF the same company there; ]. Arthur OF
st. Paul, MIMI, superintendent of de-
partment of supplies for the same com
pany at that place. Funeral services
were held at her late residence Sunday
the 10Th inst, conducted by Rev. c. o.
Grieshaber, pastor of the Congregational
Church. The services were very largely
attended, and there were many handsome
floral tributes betokening the esteem in
which the deceased was held.
Mrs. Blake was the daughter of War
rem and Jane A. Morse) Mansur, and a
sister of Col. Mansur, and the wife of
Charles Blake who enlisted August 81,
1868 in Co. D., 9th regiment Vermont
volunteers and was mustered into ser.
vice the same day. He was killed at Win
chester, bravely fighting, September 10,
1864.
Mrs. Blake and her husband belonged
to large class of silent heroes in the late
war. The visible and Wanted heroism
OF those times is constantly before the
eyes of the people, while the greater hero
ism exercised in those perious days has
scarcely voice to speak of individual
bravery, suffering and sacrifice. He who
went into the storm moved by adventu-
rous impulses is admired for the life and
enthusiasm that inspired him, but at the
same time he may not have been possessed
OF high appreciation of the sacrifice he
was to make, nor of the deepest convic-
tionS of devotion or duty. lie -hV went
from no settled life plans or purposes, in
duced by gain or the novelty of the stu
alton, is entitled to credit. He who went
for honor and promotion and to make
whether he fell or survived his name and
fame would be secure is entitled to high
eulogium for his spirit and enterprise.
But he in whose mind quiet sentiments
of peace have been cultivated from his
birth, who is tightly enlaced in little ru-
raj plans and purposes which engross his
very life thoughts, who has united him.
self with a life companion and whose
ways are begirt with growing infancy,
stirred by stern sense of duty breaks
away from those tenderest ties, from all
his life plans, and goes into storm Of
war, an occupation for which he has
no inclination, and which to him in the
abstract is horrible, stands in point o.
patriotism and devotion over them and
over all besides. He going, sees no pos,
sibiity of but slight return. He knows
that where he falls he will lie unknown
perhaps uncoffined and unsung."
But as great as was his devotion and
that of her who survived him for time
The exercise of warlike qualities are
stormy, impulsive, moved by the sur
roundings of the individual who exercises
those qualities. But the storm, the stir
ring music of the march and strife, a
touch of the enthusiasm of the thousands
that surround him are all helps, bearing
him up in the performance of duty. But
when sacrifices are made and duties per
formed in silence and alone, and only ac
complished by the individual rising up
| only by the aid of her own feebleness and
enduring through many weary days and
long nights the silent struggles, depriva
tons and the loss Of every fixed hope II
life she is in the exercise of a courage
and devotion unsurpassed by any con
ceivable conditions. And when com
PEELED to wander almost distracted anc
alone through the long and weary space
which intervenes between his and he
final going then the sacrifice is almos
immeasurably increased. His was tn
grand effort, sublime accomplishment
the terrible storm, the sudden silence
and then peaceful sleep. Hers was tn
waiting the watching, the terrible sus
pense, the days, weeks and years OF gaz
ing into the silent, gloomy life tina
suffered most by its prolongation. Sue
it is true are the lives of thousands c
others but particularly impressive ar
the lives of these two beings. W
cannot exaggerate or perhaps adequatel
appreciate their contribution to the haf
piness of the living, or the deep and ter
der respect and gratitude due them.
there no compensation in exchange to
lives like these? They neither asked no
expected any. He earned the truest an
highest rewards which can be bestowe
upon brave man, and she the richest r.
turns which can come to one who spenc
her life in the endurance of suffering
; and the exercise of unselhsh devotion an
:. those womanly virtues, the memory I
= which are revered and tenderly cherisht
by men everyw here, p.