Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-12-08

OF intelligence, who could keep
her Poise under trying circum.
stances, accept calmly and meet
gently conditions as they came to
her. There are particular obsta.
cles that really superior person
has to meet, and these she could
not avoid, for by nature and edu-
cation she was a woman of unusual
merit and excellent taste. While
devoted to her relatives and friends,
and so living as to win their
sincere appreciation, the fact that
the full scope Of her character and
ability was limited by her loyalty
to requirments she was too gener-
Gus to avoid, was apparent to them.
Observing so many in places to
the requirments of which they are
inferior, it is unusual to think of a
person like Miss Steele who could
have taken almost any position
with credit, but these thoughts
start because she met so we'll the
duties which came to her, as gave
new assurance that
Spirits are not finely touched
But to fine issues"
Mr.. and Mrs. Steele came to
Island Pond in March, 1880, at
which time the son, Z. J. Steele,
who had been fourteen years
away from home, purchased the
farm on the lakeshore then known
as the stone place; and at the
close of the school year, the daugh-
ter, Elizabeth, who had been for
several years teaching in Clark in
stitute for the deaf and dumb at
Northampton, Mass, came to care
for her parents and brother, which
she did for each to the best of her
unselfsh and capable capacity.
What the Steele farm became soon
after her going there may be illus
trated by few lines from friends
diary. ION Sunday we went to
get flowers for the memorial service
for President Garfield. We drove
around the pond to the Steele farm,
where the garden was profusion
of bloom. 1t was pleasant to go
there, for all around and inside the
house there was something cheer
full and artistic, and we brought
away with the flowers other influ-
ences of refinement"
Here the Steele family lived to-
gether till April 20, 1898, when
the father passed suddenly away.
Later they moved to a residence
on Pleasant street, where the
mother deceased June 80, 1902,
after years of i'll health, during
which the daughter gave her un-
remitting and tender care.
In the Spring of 1905, the broth
er and sister moved to their home
in the village, where they lived
with a marked solicitude each for
the other till life closed here for
her, and he is left alone.
Men of a nature to think and feel
and appreciate are sustained by the
good they observe in others, and,
at last, by the recollection of it in
those who are gone. If this be so,
he, thinking of her, has such an
influence, and that is already
among the elements of which we
pc ak, possessing no better term,
as immortal the immortal inhu
ence of the recollection of a good
woman no adverse fortune can
wrest away from him.
Sustained of her faith, and dis
position to rise above depression,
she forsaw the great chang through
the months during which she had
certain knowledge of its coming,
with calm resignation akin to
cheerfulness. Thinking of her
friends, some of whom were about
her in kindly ministration to the
last, she designated the church and
societies and individuals she wished
to have particular articles, books
she had priced and the paintings
which were the product of her rare
artistic skill always rated by her
self at less than its real merit.
So passed the gentle, heroic soul
away, and as she wished, in accord
with her nature, her pastor read
the sublime burial service, and he1
life rested in the memory of those