Biographical Sketches: (From: "Fanshawe and Other Pieces")Hawthorne, Nathaniel
History
Biographical Sketches: (From: "Fanshawe and Other Pieces")
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
New England -- Biography
It is contemplated to erect a monument, by subscription, to Mr.
Fessenden's memory. It is right that he should be thus honored. Mount
Auburn will long remain a desert, barren of consecrated marbles, if
worth like his be yielded to oblivion. Let his grave be marked out,
that the yeomen of New England may know where he sleeps; for he was
their familiar friend, and has visited them at all their firesides. He
has toiled for them at seed-time and harvest: he has scattered the good
grain in every field; and they have garnered the increase. Mark out his
grave as that of one worthy to be remembered both in the literary and
political annals of our country, and let the laurel be carved on his
memorial stone; for it will cover the ashes of a man of genius.
JONATHAN CILLEY.
The subject of this brief memorial had barely begun to be an actor in
the great scenes where his part could not have failed to be a prominent
one. The nation did not have time to recognize him. His death, aside
from the shock with which the manner of it has thrilled every bosom, is
looked upon merely as causing a vacancy in the delegation of his State,
which a new member may fill as creditably as the departed. It will,
perhaps, be deemed praise enough to say of Cilley, that he would have
proved himself an active and efficient partisan. But those who knew him
longest and most intimately, conscious of his high talents and rare
qualities, his energy of mind and force of character, must claim much
more than such a meed for their lost friend. They feel that not merely
a party nor a section, but our collective country, has lost a man who
had the heart and the ability to serve her well. It would be doing
injustice to the hopes which lie withered upon his untimely grave, if,
in paying a farewell tribute to his memory, we were to ask a narrower
sympathy than that of the people at large. May no bitterness of party
prejudices influence him who writes, nor those, of whatever political
opinions, who may read!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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