LETTER LXXIV.
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TO MRS. M. WHARTON.
Boston.
DEAR MADAM,
We have paid the la&longs;t tribute of
re&longs;pect to your beloved daughter. The day
after my arrival, Mrs. Sumner propo&longs;ed that
we &longs;hould vi&longs;it the &longs;ad &longs;pot which contains the
remains of our once amiable friend. The
grave of Eliza Wharton, &longs;aid &longs;he, &longs;hall not be
unbedewed by the tears of friend&longs;hip.
Ye&longs;terday we went accordingly, and were
much plea&longs;ed with the apparent &longs;incerity of
the people, in their a&longs;&longs;urances that every thing
in their power had been done to render her
&longs;ituation comfortable. The minute&longs;t circumstances
were faithfully related; and from the
&longs;tate of her mind, in her la&longs;t hours, I think
much comfort may be derived to her afflicted
friends.
We &longs;pent a mournful hour, in the place
where &longs;he is intered, and then returned to
the inn, while Mrs. Sumner gave orders for
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a decent &longs;tone to be erected over her grave,
with the following in&longs;cription:
“THIS HUMBLE STONE,
IN MEMORY OF
ELIZA WHARTON,
IS INSCRIBED BY HER WEEPING FRIENDS,
TO WHOM SHE ENDEARED HERSELF BY UNCOMMON
TENDERNESS AND AFFECTION.
ENDOWED WITH SUPERIOR ACQUIREMENTS,
SHE WAS STILL MORE DISTINGUISHED BY HUMILITY
AND BENEVOLENCE.
LET CANDOR THROW A VEIL OVER HER FRAILTIES,
FOR GREAT WAS HER CHARITY TO OTHERS.
SHE SUSTAINED THE LAST
PAINFUL SCENE, FAR FROM EVERY FRIEND;
AND EXHIBITED AN EXAMPLE
OF CALM RESIGNATION.
HER DEPARTURE WAS ON THE 25th DAY OF
JULY, A. D. —,
IN THE 27th YEAR OF HER AGE,
AND THE TEARS OF STRANGERS WATERED HER GRAVE.”
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I hope, madam, that you will derive satisfaction
from the&longs;e exertions of friend&longs;hip, and
that, united to the many other &longs;ources of consolation
with which you are furni&longs;hed, they
may alleviate your grief; and while they leave
the plea&longs;ing remembrance of her virtues, add
the &longs;upporting per&longs;ua&longs;ion, that your Eliza is
happy.
I am, &c.
Julia Granby.
FINIS.
