Biography of Rev. Hosea BallouBallou, Maturin M. (Maturin Murray)
Religion
Biography of Rev. Hosea Ballou
Ballou, Maturin M. (Maturin Murray)
Ballou, Hosea, 1771-1852; Clergy -- United States -- Biography; Universalists -- United States -- Biography
We have already given, in these pages, some remarks from the pen of the
editor of the Trumpet, who, in a notice of Mr. Ballou's life, given on
the occasion of a full-length portrait being completed of him, for the
School-street Society, at the age of seventy-six, says of his
companion:--"Sept. 15, 1796, he was married to his present wife, a woman
of unsurpassable goodness, concerning whose praise it would be almost
impossible to speak too highly." Mr. Whittemore was, some years since,
an inmate of the family for a considerable period of time, and his words
must therefore have weight, as coming from one who spoke advisedly.
Many of us know from personal experience how great is the influence upon
our lives and actions of her to whom we have been bound by the holy tie
of matrimony. Characters are often made or marred by this association.
The calm dignity of demeanor, the evenness of temper, the perfect
contentment and general life of the subject of this biography, all
manifested the true character of his home relations, influences, and
associations. Had those relations been different from what they were, a
sterner hue would have tinged his character, and a different spirit
doubtless have imbued his whole career in life; at least the inference
is but natural.
The following lines were written by Mr. Ballou, then at the age of
seventy-four years, in an album which he had presented to his wife, and
are introduced here to show the affectionate regard that existed between
them at this advanced period of life. No comment is necessary, save that
the lines were written by a husband to his wife after _fifty years_'
companionship.
TO MY WIFE.
"Thou dearest of the dear to me,
Of the beloved the best,
Could'st thou but read this heart and see
The treasures of my breast,
Assurance surely would be thine
That undiminished love,
By age grown better, like to wine,
Can never faithless prove.
Not when the virgin rose of youth
Blushed on thy snowy breast;
Not when we pledged ourselves in truth,
And were by Hymen blessed,
Could strong affection boast as now
Of such resistless sway,
When age sits wrinkled on my brow,
And mortal powers decay."
The patient reader who has followed us thus far in this desultory
memoir, must feel more than a passing interest in her who was the bosom
companion of Mr. Ballou; and in this connection we therefore introduce
the following extract from a communication to the Christian Freeman,
dated Sept. 5, 1851, which refers to a visit to the house of Mr. Ballou,
who had been indisposed for a few days. After a brief introduction, the
writer says:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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