The New Hampshire Gazette

From the CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE, for Dec. 1760.

An Interview with a Lady who lay at the Point of Death, by a Gentleman who attended her till her Departure.

Found her seated in the Chair of Sickness, in her Chamber, with her little Infant lying in her Lap, over which she hung with such a Look of maternal Fondness and Anxiety, as I yet never saw, and which no Painting could express! Soon as I advanced she lifted up her Eyes, in which stood the big, the affectionate Drops; while pale Death seemed to sit upon her Countenance, wan, yet not devoid of that placid Sweetness, which ever dwelt upon it. "I was indulging, Sir, said she, and I hope not improperly, some natural Affection, and taking, perhaps taking my last Leave, of my poor little Babe, who holds my Heart rather too fast (frail and weak Heart as it is) rather too fast bound to this transitory Scene! Pretty Innocent; see how it smiles on its weeping Mother! unconscious yet of the Bitterness of Grief, and the Sadness of Tears. Sweet Babe, I must leave thee, indeed I must leave thee; the Father of Heaven thinks fit, and his Will be done! But Oh, the Parent, Dear Sir, the Parent will feel: Surely this will not be deemed a Deficiency in humble Resignation!". I observed that Christianity by no Means opposes Humanity; and that Grace doth not destroy, it only regulates and refines our Affections. "My Soul, she went on, thankfully acquiesces in all the Divine Disposal, and I am satisfied, that whatever a God of Love and Wisdom ordains, must be best for his Creatures. But when I look upon this dear Innocent; when I consider the various Evils of the World, and the Prevalence of our corrupt Passions, when I consider the peculiar Inconveniences of our Sex, if deprived of maternal Care and Instruction; my Heart throbs with sensible Anxiety and I wish—Oh Father of Love, pity and pardon me! Must I. ah must I leave this sweet harmles one to all the Trials and Difficulties of Life! Oh my pretty Babe. I must leave thee; but I shall entrust thee (and in that let me take Comfort) entrust thee to a tender Father, and to the Protection of a Saviour and a God, who careth for his little ones! Bleed Saviour—" She was here overpowered by the Strength of her Affection: and fell into a fainting Fit; from which we almost apprehended she would never recover. Her Husband and her Parents were instantly called up; every Effort was used to restore her: though Grief suffered no one present to utter a Syllable. The Scene was the most profoundly awful I ever beheld!

At length she came to herself; and the first Object She saw was her trembling Mother bathed in Tears, and holding her Clay cold Hand! on the other Side stood her Father; at her Feet knelt her anxious and distressed Husband—around her several of us were placed, whose Tears sufficiently witnessed our Concern. She raised her languid Eyes; gazed wishfully at us— Then fixing them upon her Mother, "Best and most beloved of Parents, said she, Farewell, Farewell; God of his good Mercy reward your tender Care of me, and give us a meeting in the future World! Oh my Father, & are you too there? Pray do not let me see your Tears: Support my poor Mother, and remember you have a Daughter gone before you to that Place, where all Sorrow ceases.—But my Husband—" She said no more; then threw her Arms round his Neck, and both mingled their Tears together for some Time—She sighed forth "Best and most dearest of Men, let me thank you, sincerely thank you for all the Marks of your tender Esteem—But be kind to my pretty Babe....Oh why should I say be kind! I know your Goodness; but my sweet Innocent; let her...." She stopt short....But soon went on, "I little expected all this Pain at parting; this is dying; this is the Bitterness of Death....My dear Friends." she continued addressing herself to all of us around her, "accept my best Acknowledgements for all your kind Offices to me; if you ever remember me when I am gone, remember, that my Soul perfectly rejoiced in God's Dealings with me; and that however the weaker Passions of Nature may prevail; yet am I wholly resigned to his Will, thankful to him for all; nay desirous to quit this World, that I may see my Saviour, the Lord of Love, who gave his Life for me, and in whose Merits I joyfully trust for Salvation....I am on the Brink of Eternity, and now see clearly the Importance of it...Remember, oh Remember, that every Thing in Time is insignificant to the awful Concerns of..."Eternity, she would have said, but her Breath failed; she fainted a second Time; and when all our Labours to recover her, seemed just effectual, and she appeared returning to Life, a deep Sob alarmed us—. and the lovely Body was left untenanted by its immortal Inhabitant!