Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian IslandsYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Religion
Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Missions -- Melanesia; Patteson, John Coleridge, 1827-1871
change took place, making it evident that the end was drawing near.
The sufferer was told that the boys were come, and was asked if she
would see them. She was delighted, and they came in, restraining their
grief while she kissed and blessed them, and then, throwing her arms
round their father, thanked him for having brought her darling boys for
her to see once more. It was not long before she became unconscious; and
though all the family were watching and praying round her, she showed no
further sign of recognition, as she gradually and tranquilly fell asleep
in the course of the night.
To his cousin, Mrs. Martyn, Coley wrote the following letter just after
the funeral:--
'We only came down from our rooms to go to church, and directly the
beautiful service was over we went upstairs again. I need not tell you
what we then felt, and now do feel. It is a very dreadful loss to us
all; but we have been taught by that dear mother, who has been now taken
from us, that it is not fit to grieve for those who die in the Lord,
"for they rest from their labours." She is now, we may safely trust, a
blessed saint in Heaven, far removed from all cares and anxieties; and,
instead of spending our time in useless tears and wicked repinings, we
should rather learn to imitate her example and virtues, that, when we
die, we may sleep in Him as our hope is this our sister doth, and may be
finally united with her in Heaven. Yesterday was a day of great trial to
us all: I felt when I was standing by the grave as if I must have burst.
'Dear Papa bears up beautifully, and is a pattern of submission to us
all. We are much more happy than you could suppose, for, thank God, we
are certain she is happy, far happier than she could be on earth. She
said once, "I wonder I wish to leave my dearest John and the children,
and this sweet place, but yet I do wish it" so lively was her faith and
trust in the merits of her Saviour.'
A deep and permanent impression was left upon the boy's mind, as will be
seen by his frequent references to what he had then witnessed; but for
the present he was thought to be less depressed than the others, and
recovered his natural tone of spirits sooner than his brother and
sisters. The whole family spent their mournful Christmas at Thorverton
Rectory, with Dr. and Mrs. Coleridge and their daughter Fanny, their
chief comforters and fellow-sufferers; and then returned to London. The
Judge's eldest daughter, Joanna, who had always been entirely one with
the rest, had to take her place at the head of the household. In her own
words, 'It was trying for a lad of fifteen and a half, but he was very
good, and allowed me to take the command in a way that few boys would
nave done.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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