Mrs. Henrietta Merritt

Obituary.

Died, February 10th, at Kingston, Mrs. Henrietta Merritt, aged, 64 years, 11 months and 22 days. She was born near Kingston, in the year 1807, was married at the old homestead, about forty-three years ago, leaving at the time of her death eleven children and twenty-four grandchildren. Although the tenor of this christian woman's life flowed on with more than usual evenness, there were many incidents connected with it remarkable from their very rarity of occurence. It was remarkable that all her children and nearly all her grandchildren were present at her funeral, there not having been a death in the family circle for forty years :remarkable that this mother lived to see all her children, forming so numerous a family, grown up and doing well, without a single exception. Of her sons, one is an esteemed minister of the gospel, one a farmer and five merchants, while of her daughters, three are married and one is single. And so, having filled up the measure of her days' work, she fell asleep in Jesus. The Master was with her in her last sickness, and gave her freedom from much pain. Being stricken with paralysis, during the eleven days of her illness she was most of the time unconscious, although able at one time to call all her children to her bedside, and with a clasp of tbe hand, an upward glance, and a mother's smile and kiss bid them good-bye. She was a lover of the divine Word, and at the age of nine years had read the New Testament through, and ever after lived in the light and spirit of its sublime teachings. She used to delight yo talk of her young days, when she helped work on the fields, to rake and bind, to 'plant and hoe corn, und to go to market and dispose of the produce. There were no wasted hours in that ever active, ever toiling life. It was filled to the very brim with loving care for everything around her, and overflowed with return-blessings, she was a friend to the poor, a help and comforter to the sick, and she held in her heart a constant longing for the attainment of the reward so surely in reserve for those who sincerely love him wait upon the Master. It is a noticeable singularity that she, having eleven children, was sick just eleven days, died within a few moments of the eleventh hour of the day, with eleven months, added to the 64th year of her age. Just previous to her last illness she composed the following acrostics —one upon her youngest daughter Jennie and one on herself. There is a sermon in each line : TO MY DAUGHTER JENNIE Jennie, won't you love the Saviour? Even now, while you are young? Naught on earth can give you pleasure; No He is the only one. If on Him yon will depend, Ever mere He'll be your frlend May you in your youthful days, Ever take Him as your own; Rest in Him, He'll not forsake you ; Rest in Him. you'l sure find peace If in Him you put yonr trust, Then He'll raise you from the dust, That you may ever dwell with Him. ON YOUR MOTHER Heaven where my dear Saviour dwells, Even while I linger here; Naught but the blood that He has shed, Revives my drooping spirits here. I who am but a sinner, Lord, Enable me to come,— Take me to Thine own home above. Take me Saviour in Thy love, And I shall dwell with Thee. May I in Thine own kingdom, Lord, Even have, the humblest seat, Raised from earth with Thee above, Raised in righteousness to Thee, In Thy presence may I be. Take me, Saviour, home to Thee, That 1 may Thy dear face see. Tho funeral service, which was held in the 1st Reformed Church, on Monday afternoon of this week, drew together an immense and deeply affected audience. The sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Stitt, who was assisted in the other services by Rev. Mr. Harris and Dr. Vandeveer. All felt that a truly good woman had passed away out of Israel, and left a void which, in some hearts, will remain through life, unfilled.