The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-06

l
| her Dastor and warm friend and vas
wont in his letters to address her as
| NV Beloved Mother Under cate o.
| January 81 1890 he writes;
| my Dear Friend I remember YOU
/ said the other night that you We're Wiz
/ ing to walk by my light totd MIS-
| Rice OF it, and she. to make trial OF tne
| thing. has taken one of my hdh uol
| lars and bougl1l this little glass lamp
and filled it with my oil and put piees
| OF my wick in it; and now she sends 1t to
| you with every expression OF her SIM
| cere regard etc" In Maxwell ateuloir
| of Rice we find a beautiful tribute to-
| this noble woman. DIR. Rice himself says.
| Mrs. Wood was no common woman
| Her understanding was we'll cultivated.
and her taste greatly improved by much
| and various reading. Many OF the stand
ard English and French writer's were
quite familiar to her memory: and hay
ing, from her connection in life, enjoyed
| unusual opportunities OF seeing tho
world. she derived great Improvement.
| from actual observation. Her manners
were peculiarly disnitisd and GRACEFUL
| her poiiteness was genuine and unat-
fected. She possessed uncommon flu
ency. had ready and brilliant Wit an,s
| q rich Imagination. These Gualtiea- $
! tions fitted her to shine IN the most
attractive both to the aged and the5I
young. But she greatly preferred thel
privacy OF domestic life; and there sho !
| was round dIschargins with exemplary /
/ fidelity the duties of wife. mother, |
neighbor, friend and mistress.
The circls at her fireside crowded
around her and listened with delight to i
| converse ton, sometimes grave and some
time; ioyous as best suited the stibjevt:
cF heroes
witls which her mind was stored: to her
details of events that occurred during
tho war of independence; to her descrip-
tion OF persons 10 her deiineatious OF
character. sometimes humorous and sat
ircaI and sometimes deeply pathetic: and.
indeed. to whatever she WAS pleased to
say for everything from her WAS inter-
esting To the last the voting. whom
she houored with her friendship prefer
rgd her society to hat OF their gay
coevals-
Mrs. Wood possessed musical rs we'll
as Doctical talent. and though seif-taueis
played with much skill upon the guitar.
piano and spinnct.
Her death occurred April. 1S2%, in
Richmond and she was laid to rest in
the Robinson burying- ground OF 'Popu-
lar Grove" Just beyond the western Inn
its of Richmond near the James river
/
historical papers and encyclopedias OF
hicgra ply speaks of her IS possessing re-
= r1tarkabif poetlcai talents: Vet. perhaps.
the chief value OF her verses is their as
socatioEs with so remarkable q woman:
they owe their fame to her rather than.
size to them; nevertheless. many Of them
are peculiarly tender and musical. aatt1
compare favorahly with contemporary;
| American poetry. She might be cailect.
the Mother of Virginia Poetrs Uni
Fortunately her hest verses are too lonst
for Insertion here but a few In fill and
selections from, others are given peio1.
FIer lsngthiest poem is "Esvsntide. onei
| Of the sweetest is The Belle du Jour. oc.i
Convol votus Minor
Sweet fIorett beauty OF day
And transient as thou'st sweet;
Scarce opening to the morning ray.
Ere shrinking from its heat"
"afoon, faded, sees each early charm.
Thy blue eye closed in death:
Ard evenings breeze thy wasted form
Watts lightly DER the heath" etc.
"Retrosneetion' is d touching descrtp-
tion of the sorrows that Mysterious
| Heaven had poured upon her life. First
weeping for her invalid mother. then,
for her husband separated from her by,
seTen years war; for the destroyed !ifi-+
teliects OF her only child and then for'
her death. she closes with the words.
what rnocks our mortal sight?
Enough for me, thou Whilst it So" -
THE CAPTIVE BIRD
Say. little Gagged flutterer. say.
Why u1ournful waves thy dropping
wing?
! ychv silent SIT. the live-loug day?
Ner vespers chaunt nor mathis sing?
yvhen first a captive thou vert made
And in thy wiry dwelling swung,
Suspended in the leafy shade
Or sunny door. you sayly sung.
My careful hand supplied thee store !
OF ripest berries from the hill:
Thy cup repicnished. strewed thy floor
With gltttering gravel from the rill.
Beneath the same luxuriant vine
The same kind hand supplies thy care:
Tho suns first cheering rays are thine.
Yet thou art sad and silent there etc.
Lines written to the tune of .TUeed-
side Is short enough to give in full:
IN tears and In sorrow we part,
Yet love gives an earnest most sweet.
And whispers the ioxe to my heart
In rapture ard smiles We shall meet.
Then cherish this vision so fair.
Ncr shua the gay pastines of youth.
For why should thy bosom despair,
Ttet hreaths pure affection and truth.
INVOCATION TO HOPE"
Come gentle hope, so oft invoked.
Nor e'er invoked in vain,
| For eft which In the woe worn heart
Thou hodest unknown reign:
And when despair OF human aid
Bedms the haggersI eye.
IFS thou gupporr'st the sinking head
and point'st its view on high"
!, her sentimental lays are quite as good,
! Mr.. Lewis says:
.'I have heard :oh. come will We gang
beanie lassie, VII me-? sung by persons
; who thought they were carsiiins: the
wood notes Wild OF Scotia's sweetest