Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-30
MRS. LYDIA BATES CIRCUIT.
De"th of the Wife of Rev. Lewis Grout,
who Shared with Him His Missionary
Work in Zulu Land,

Death of the wife of Rev. Lewis Grout,
Who Shared with Him His Missionary
Work In Zulu Land.
Mrs. Lewis Grout died Tuesday evening
at her home in West Brattleboro. Her ill
ness began last December and was doubt
less due in large part to the natural decline
OF her advancing years. Her nervous sys-
tenn received severe shock at the time of
the fire which destroyed the Knapp house,
Just across the street from the Grout home
stead, late in January. From this shock
MRS. circuit never rallied, and for several
weeks she had been confined to her bed
Mrs CIRCUITS maiden name was Lydia
Bates. She was born in Springfield, this
state, Aug Is, 1918, and was the youngest
OF the II children OF Deacon Phlneas
Bates OF that town. During her course in
the common schools she evnced an unusu-
al aptitude for study, which her father
wisely encouraged, and she enjoyed the
privilege of terms in various higher schools,
notably in boarding school in Greenfield,
Mass, taught by daughter of Noah Web
ster. She then spent two years as a gov
erness in a Maryland family. Returning
home, and desiring still higher education,
she went, in 1913, to Mt. Holyoke semina.
ry, of which Mary Lyon was then prnci-
pal, and joined the class of 40, which eel
ebrated its semi-centenuial by reunion at
the college at the commencement year
ago.
The marriage of Mr.. and Mrs. Grout
took place on the Sth day of October fol-
lowing he- graduation Mr.. Grout was
that day ordained a missionary of the
American board for the African field At
the close of the ordaining sermon, which
was preached by Prof. Park of Andover,
the wedding ceremony took place, and that
evening the young people started on their
wedding journey which ended only when
they had sailed over thousands of miles of
watery waste, through tropic seas, on to
the Cape of Good Hope, thence to Natal,
and thence by many miles of "treking"
to their missionary station in /ululand.
In this field MIR. and Mrs. Grout spent 10
years Their work was of the most prim-
tive and practical kind, because the natives
had to be taught the very rudiments of
civilized living before progress could be
made in Outstanding them and organiz-
ing them into churches. In all this work
Mrs. Grout made herself a helpmate for
her husband in the truest sense. She
made of their humble cottage in that
strange country a refined home where many
guests of distinction were entertained; she
learned the Zulu language and came close
to the natives in their every day life she
taught the women and children how to
read and write, how to sew, how to make
clothing, how to make bread and butter,
how to live clean and decent lives. She
| gathered them in Sunday schools and BIZ
BILE classes, and did for them all, in short,
| that an earnest and devoted Christian wom-
an could do. Two children were born to
Mr.. and Mrs. Grout during their residence
in Africa, a daughter, Annie L., who sur
wives, and son, several years younger,
who died at the age of Is months.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grout returned to this
country in 1862. Pastorates were filled in
SaXtons River, and in Feeding Hills, Mass
and then, in 1865, they took up their resi-
dence in West Brattleboro, which has been
their home ever since. In 1850 they moved
to their well. known home on the Main
street of the West village where, on the
Sth day of last October, their golden we'd
ding was celebrated. On that occasion
Mrs. Grout seemed to be in good health,
and many visitors noted her fair and fresh
| complexion, her charming manners and
almost youthful appearance. Her life in
West Brattleboro has been quiet one, but
so long as her strength permitted she was
actively interested in all the religious and
social work of the village and bore her
part in it.
She retained to the last the love of study
and of good books which marked her
youth. She was well read in natural sci
ence, and was especially proficient as a
student in botany. She had a natural
taste for history, and knew the ways OF
| living and the methods of government OF
many of the peoples of the earth. She
was versed in current literature and in al
the general news of the day.
The weakness and decline of the winter
and spring has been borne with calmness
and patient resignation, and at last life
ebbed away in peace and quietness.
The funeral was held yesterday after
noon. AT 1880 prayer was offered at th'
house by Rev. f. S. Smith. The body
was then taken to the Congregations
church where, at $50, brief services were
conducted by Rev. j. II. Rabbit, witt
singing of the familiar hymns, Il heard
the voice of Jesus say" and "The King
of Love my Shepherd is" by l.. w. Haw
ley and j. Z. Hall. The burial was in tn,
| West BrattlebOro cemetery