The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-04
BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF A BEAU
TIFUL LIFE.

Many years ago,in my "wee" childhood
during the last sickness of that beau
tiful, sanity prophet and spiritual
teacher of the universal Fatherhood
and it's consequent results-Rev. John
Ere eman,-my father had given him a
sacred promise to take charge of his be-
loved church in East Hamilton, Madi-
son. Co., New York. These two were to
each other like David and Jonathan of
old, and as soon as possible for him.
after the departure of his friend, my
father removed his family to the par
sonage in Hamilton,
In the early evening of our arrival at
the large farm homestead of Mr..
Robert Usher, senior,-a portion of
which made the parsonage-a little.
pale faced girl. a few years older than
myself, came into the large pleasant
room in which we we're all gathered.
and was drawn by my father into his
arms and held close to his breast and
spoken to in that tender tone that told
her of her own dear fathers love. |
have given description of this meeting
in the memoir of my father. The little
girl was Frances j. Freeman. She was
the oldest child of Rev. John and Mary
Jenkins Freeman. She was tall in
physique for one of her years; slender.
with somewhat pallid complexion, large,
beautiful eyes, and hair heavy and long.
and full of ripples. of a shade between
a deep faxen and bright gold. In her
expression of word, and voice and man.
ner, was all of her fathers spirituality,
and her mothers sweet, sensitive shy
nese. Child as she was she had already
sad hear ted, widowed mother. whose
troubled doubts of the individual and
lasting love Of the heart of our Father,
vanished in the presence of the wonder
full peace and most perfect and glorious
hope of her husbands parting.
AS the years went on. and little
Frances grew into girlhood and young
womanhood. she was quick to discern
whatever she, as the elder sister and
d daughter, could do to brighten the way
for mother, the two brothers and little
sister. AS comforter and helper in the
home where they all loved each other
dearly; as student in the school-room. AS
teacher of younger or older pupils; as
maiden among her companions. as young
womanhood where hearts needed COM
fort, or human lives called for sweet min
istries of sympathy, she was the lovely
expression of her idolized fathers re-
ligious faith. that rooted its fragrant
tendrils in her babyheart when he
fondled her in his arms. and that in all
the after years, budded and blossomed
into words ard deeds of unfailing and
benefcent mercy.
In the fall of 1874 she removed to Illi-
nois with her mother and brother and
sister. and they soon welcomed to this
new Western home the remaining bro
ther, but the family we're soon separated
by her marriage with the most worthy
ald capable DIR. j illus Nye, to whom
she had long been betrothed. and with
whom she returned to the bridal home
among her early friends in Hubbards-
vile. New York. After few years she
came back with her husband and chill
dren to Tiskilwa, Illinois, and cheer
fully settled down to farm life. while her
husbands medical practice became
extensive. and where. in all the sur
rounding vicinity. her wide magnani-
nous. and ever-ready sympathy and
benefcence, earned for her the sweet,
old title so long ago given to the teach
ers Of. and believers in Gods universal
love-"A Doctor of Mercy"
Her most worthy mother passed on to