"Lady H, on riding past in ner carriage, having seen it, was induced to stop, and ask the widow, why her cottage bore such a singular inscription Page 4. London: PRINTED FOR FRANCIS WESTLEY, 10, STATIONERS COURT, AND AVE-MARIA LANE, THE DEATH OF THE PIOUS COTTAGER. "The death bed of the just is yet undrawn, Angels should paint it. Angels ever there. Man's glory heaven vouchsafes to call his own; YOUNG. From Miss Holmes to Mrs. Loader. "MY DEAR FRIEND, 66 We have just received the intelligence of Captain Orme's decease, which has deeply affected his widow. He distinguished himself in his profession, and might have risen to a higher rank than he held, but his habits of intemperance became so inveterate, that they could not be subdued, and he fell a victim to their influence. Thus has terminated one of the most unhappy marriages that was ever solemnized; and while we wish to throw the veil of oblivion over its fatal evils, yet I fear our dear Emma will sink beneath them, unless her maternal affection buoys up her spirits. Her son grows a fine little fellow-the exact model of his father, but we hope and pray that he will be endowed with another spirit At present, he is no less amiable than intelligent, and appears to unite his father's elegance of person, with his mother's mental acumen; and though he gives ocular proof that he is a branch from the wild olive, yet we can discover some fine blossoms, which we hope will be matured into the fruits of righteousness. He is making considerable progress in his classical attainments, under the instruction of a very pious and learned clergyman, who receives six pupils into his establishment; and though it is not in our power 10 regulate the appointments of Providence, yet we all hope, lic will enter the Church, if it should please God to fit him for such an honourable and sacred profession. In a letter which I received from you, at an early stage of our correspondence, you requested me to give you some further particulars of the life and character o. Mrs. Kent, the pious cottager, who then resided near us, and though I often resolved to do it, yet circumstances incessantly occurred to prevent it; but now she has finished her course with joy, and I have a little leisure time to spare, I will give as correct a sketch as I can draw. She was left a widow when about the age of forty, with four children, almost entirely dependant upon her for support. Her husband, who was a pious man, died of a consumption, which very gradually wasted away his life. The symptoms of this disorder broke out upon him within a few years after their marriage; but owing to great care, they went off, and he enjoyed good health, till within a year and a half of his death. But as his outward man decayed, his inner man was renewed day by day. He was not favoured, during his protracted illness, with any rapture in prospect of his dissolution, but he enjoyed a high degree of composure; and when the hour of his departure came, he died in peace. While he was living, the storm of persecution moved not from its secret place to disturb the quiet repose he enjoyed in his humble cottage; but soon after his remains were deposited in the tomb, the steward of L. H- informed his widow, that unless she gave up her religious notions, and left off going to the little Village Chapel, where she often forgot the troubles of the present world, in her anticipations of the felicity of the future, she should not be suffered to remain. Her reply to this unmanly and anti-christian threat, at once displayed the characteristic independence and firmness of her mind. "As I would not give up my religion to please his Lordship, you cannot suppose that I will do it to please you. You may turn me out of this cottage, but my Father, who knows that I want a dwelling for myself and children, will provide me with another, over which you will have no authority." As soon as this threat was known, a very general murmur was expressed through the hamlet, and many thought that it would not be carried into execution; but a pious gentleman, who felt a great respect for the memory of her husband, and who knew that she would always live in terror, while under the power of this petty tyrant, built a little cottage for her on his own estate, which she occupied, free of rent, till the day of her decease. Three of her children, in a regular succession, fell victims to their father's complaint, on their attaining the eleventh year of their age, and were all buried in the same grave. She was a very industrious, frugal, and prudent woman; greatly respected by her religious friends, who, much to their honour, provided an ample maintenance for her, when she became, through the in firmities of her constitution, unable to support herself. Her cottage, which was built on a pice of rising ground, within 200 yards of the turnpike road, was the neatest in the hamlet, and bore, in legible characters, the following inscription, in front between its two gothic bed-room windows: "A refuge from persecution." This memorial of his cruel spirit mortified the Steward, by exciting public attention; and after smarting under i some time, he offered to make any apology to the widov on condition that it might be effaced. She became his advocate, and the stone was removed; but ere he had made the application, Lady H--, on riding past in her carriage, having seen it, was induced to stop, and ask the widow why her cottage bore such a singular inscription. The reason was given, and when she informed his Lordship, on his return from a tour, he felt so indignant, that he sent for his Steward, and after a severe reprimand, dismissed him from his situation. I have known her about the space of seven years, and have spent many pleasant, and I trust profitable hours in her company; and now she is gone, I often find the remembrance of our conversation, a source of the sweetest consolation. Her knowledge of the Scriptures was very accurate and extensive; and the remarks which she would sometimes make on dierent passages were pertinent and striking. In her the word of Christ dwelt richly; it sweetened her temper, which was naturally very irritable-composed her perturbed feelings-induced a spirit of the most entire resignation to the will of God I ever witnessed-opened before her the prospect of future bliss, and supplied her with subjects of reflection and conversation, which made her society no less a source of improvement to others, than retirement was of peaceful serenity to herself. She was well qualified to guide the young Christian, amidst the perplexities which often entangle his faith in the early stages of his experience; and of guarding him from the fatal evils by which he is often surrounded in his passage through life. To her conversation my sister Jane is more indebted than to any other means of religious instruction and even Mrs. Orme would often steal away from our society to spend an hour in her's. After she had passed the age of seventy, her infirmities began to increase upon her; but we were not alarmed by any symptoms of approaching dissolution, till about twelve months since. When sitting with her one fine summer's evening, listening to the melodies of nature, and occasionally alluding to the bountiful provision which our heavenly Father has made for our necessities and gratifications, she replied in the beautiful language of the poet: "Yes, not content With every food of life to nourish man, 66 but this is not the only provision he has made for us. He is now preparing a place for us, and soon he will come to receive us to himself." "You are just on the eve of entering into life." I am just on the eve of tottering into life, and expect soon to fall, when mortality will be swallowed up of life." "Then you have no doubts or fears to depress you!" "I have had many, but they are all gone, and though I have my spiritual trials, yet I can anticipate the final issue with great composure. I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that` day.” "You long to be gone, I have no doubt." "I certainly long to see HIM, whom unseen, I have now loved for more than fifty years, because then I shall be like him but I am not impatient. Indeed, I am not yet prepared to go, for the ties which bind me to earth are not all 66 |