“I write rather than speak to you on this occasion, because I can better bear to do it, and because what is written will remain, and may serve hereafter for consolation and admonishment, of which the happiest and best of us stand but too often in need.
“If anything could at this time increase my sorrow,
for the death of one who was the pride
of my eyes and the joy of my heart, it would be that there are so many who have
their full share in it. When
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“This is but the first trial of many such which are in store for you. Who may be summoned next is known only to the All-wise Disposer of all things. Some of you must have to mourn for others; some one for all the rest. It may be the will of God that I should follow more of my children to the grave; or in the ordinary course of nature and happiest issue, they may see their parents depart. Did we consider these things wisely, we should perceive how little it imports who may go first, who last; of how little consequence sooner or later is, in what must be. We must all depart when our time comes,—all to be re-united in a better state of existence, where we shall part no more.
“Our business here is to fit ourselves for that state,—not by depreciating or renouncing those pleasures which may innocently and properly be enjoyed, but by correcting the faults to which we are prone, cultivating our better dispositions, doing the will of God by doing all we can for the good of others, and fixing our dearest hopes on Heaven, which is our resting-place, and our everlasting home.
“My children, you have all brought into the world good
dispositions: I bless God for it, more than for all the other blessings which
he has vouchsafed me. But the best dispositions require self-
| Ætat. 51. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 257 |
“You know how I loved your dear sister, my sweet Isabel, who is now gathered to that part of my family and household (a large one now!) which is in Heaven. I can truly say that my desire has ever been to make your childhood happy, as I would fain make your youth, and pray that God would make the remainder of your days. And for the dear child who is departed, God knows that I never heard her name mentioned, nor spoke, nor thought of her, without affection and delight. Yet this day, when I am about to see her mortal remains committed earth to earth, it is a grief for me to think that I should ever, by a harsh or hasty word, have given her even a momentary sorrow which might have been spared.
“Check in yourselves then, I beseech you, the first
impulses of impatience, peevishness, ill-humour, anger, and resentment. I do
not charge you with being prone to these sins,—far from it,—but there is
proneness enough to them in human nature. They are easily subdued in their
beginnings; if they are yielded to they gather strength and virulence, and lead
to certain unhappiness in all the relations of life. A meek, submissive,
obliging disposition is worth all other qualities. I beseech you, therefore, to
bear and forbear, carefully to guard against giving
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“Your sister is departed in her innocence: ‘of such is the kingdom of Heaven.’ For you, if your lives are prolonged, there will be duties and trials in store, for which you must prepare by self-government, and for which God will prepare you if you steadfastly trust in his promises, and pray for that grace which is never withheld from humble and assiduous prayer.
“My children, God alone knows how long I may be spared
to you. I am more solicitous to provide for your peace of mind, and for your
everlasting interest, than for your worldly fortunes. As I have acted for
myself in that respect, so do I feel for you. The longer I may live, the more
in all likelihood will be the provision which may be made for you; large it can
never be, though whenever the hour comes, there will be enough, with prudence
and good conduct, for respectability and comfort. But were it less, my heart
would be at rest concerning you while I felt and believed that you were imbued
with those principles, and had carefully cultivated in yourselves
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“I copy this letter for each of you with my own hand. It will be read with grief now. But there will come a time when you may think of it with a solemn rather than melancholy pleasure, and feel grateful for this proof of love. Take it, then, with the blessing of
