CHAPTER VII. THE DEPARTID. We laid him in his quiet grave, A rural, soft retreat; And turned our faces from the spot We raised no graven monument Above his humble sod My father was an honest man, The noblest work of God !"-R. Coe. ON their return home, Mrs. Bradley inquired for her early friend, Julia Mason, then Mrs. Forsythe. "She returned to us last August in a confirmed consumption, brought on by her unceasing labors and exposure among the Indians of the North-West, where she and her husband were sent as missionaries. Two of the natives became so attached to them that they could not be induced to be left be hind; they, therefore, came here with them and remained till after her death in November. She, indeed, went forth weeping, bearing precious seed; afterwards returned rejoicing, bringing her sheaves with her." Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, accompanied by their sister, called upon their sick friend. He was unable to converse with them, but a holy smile lit up his countenance; while his friends were standing around his bed, he beckoned his children to his bedside. Laying his hand on their heads, he pointed up, silently invoking a blessing for the last time for them; then took the hand of Mrs. Morse, pressing it to his lips, uttered an audible "farewell," lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven, and, without a struggle, fell asleep in the arms of Jesus. Friends gathered around the bereaved family, each anxious to give some expression of love for the deceased, and their sympathy for the bereaved. On the funeral occasion, Mr. Morse's military friends paid that respect which was due an officer worthy of their highest trust. The procession which was formed at the church, to follow him to his final resting-place, was half a mile in length. At this time there was assembled a larger concourse of people in Roselle than had ever assembled on any other occasion. Mrs. Morse felt deeply the loneliness of her widowhood, she rested entirely upon the promises of God who saith, "I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy." "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive, and let thy widows trust in me." Mrs. Morse, in a few months after the death of hef husband, according to agreement, sent George to a distant part of the state to learn a trade, leaving her fatherless child to the care of Him who had promised to protect him. George kept a journal, and sent it to his mother monthly; by this she was enabled to correct and encourage him when she thought it necessary; and he was kept informed of everything of interest that came under his mother's observation. A few months before the time of his apprenticeship expired, his mother wrote the particulars relative to Mr. Radford's death, informing him also that Colonel Bertram had, two years before, built a distillery about a mile from the village. The circumstances connected with Mr. Radford's death were of the most aggravating character. One year before the time above-mentioned, he made an attempt to destroy his own life by taking poison. He arose early in the morning, as was his custom, and walked over to his store and drank what he designed to be his last draught, and returned immediately to his house, and told Mrs. Radford, on entering, that he should be dead in less than an hour, and also what he had done. Dr. Williams was immediately sent for, who administered. medicines to counteract the poison, proving, in part, effectual in its operations, but a continuation of suffering was the lot of the poor inebriate. He afterwards accomplished his design by opening the jugular vein. In the character of Mrs. Radford, when passing through this trial, the sustaining grace of God was manifested. When she entered the room where her suicidal husband sat, he gave her |