that he was a native of Boston." A humble hero is recorded in Francis Scott, æt. 44, "who, to save a child, was himself drowned in the East River" (1811). The tombstone of Archibald Hunter (1800) was erected by the Society of Journeymen Cabinet-makers as a mark of respect to a worthy member.

The social distinctions of the past are indicated by this inscription: "Mrs. Elizabeth M. Griswold, wife of Mr. John Griswold, merchant, of this City, and daughter of General Jedediah Huntington, of Norwich, Connecticut," born October 5, 1790, died March 6, 1822.

The following quaintly curious inscription refers to Mrs. Lydia Stringham, wife of Dr. James Stringham, of this City, who died January 10, 1813, aged 30 years:

"Stranger, tread lightly on this sod,

It covers the earthly remains of one who
was not only a wife, but the only Child

of a Widowed Mother, and the only surviving
Parent of an Orphan Daughter

The duties of which interesting occupation
were performed by her in a manner worthy
of the emulation of an older Christian.

She endured a long and painful illness
with an entire resignation to the Divine Will
and a Cheerfulness of Mind peculiarly her own.
Oh! She was gentle, virtuous and sincere
Too pure a spirit to continue here."

By an accidental transposition of the date on a gravestone of a member of the Masonic Order, it reads as if he was only four years old. A similar mistake was made in the case of another tomb dated 1048, prior to the Norman Conquest. General Dix refers to it in his Centennial address with quiet humor, but the figures have since been changed to 1804.

Curiosity is roused by a Welsh verse following an inscription on a tomb erected by Henry George in 1808, in memory of Catherine Owens, "his intended bosom companion" who died aged 24. Was this an ancestor of the talented author of "Poverty and Progress?" A long metrical inscription in French is on a tomb over the remains of Moise Mendes Seixas, "decede 11 Juillet, 1817, aged 66 and 8 mois æt. 15 jours." He was evidently a descendant of Gershom Seixas, an early Jewish Rabbi in New York,

but there is no explanation of how he came to be buried among Christians.

George Miller, æt. 56 (1807) is thus quaintly eulogized:

"For Honesty, Temperance and Frugality

through Life, he was Equalled by Few,
excelled by None."

The following very original inscription is on a tablet close to the west porch:

"A due tribute to the memory of

John Holt, printer to this State,
a native of Virginia,

who patiently obeyed Death's
awful summons,

January 30, 178-, aged 64."

"To say that his Family lament him is needless,

That his Friends bewail him useless,

That all regret him unnecessary,

For that he Merited every esteem is certain,
The Tongue of Slander can't say less,

Though Justice might say more,

In token of Sincere Affection, His disconsolate Widow
Hath caused this Monument to be erected."

There is a characteristically defiant tone about the following, which recalls Emerson's famous verses on leaving the pulpit: Good-bye, proud World, I'm going Home."

66

"Farewell vain world I know enough of thee,
And now I'm careless what you say of me,
Your smiles I count not, nor your frowns I fear,
My cares are past, my head lies quiet here;

What faults you saw in me take care and shun,

And look at Home. Enough there's to be done.

Several tombstones give no clue to their identity, like the one bearing the line:

"In memory of Obadiah, George and Lorana Painter,

who all died in nonage."

Sarah Oakley, aged 44, (1797), is commemorated by the following rather startling lines:

"True Virtue deep in Death's cold sleep,

Till Christ awakes the Just,

Up Mortals! so prepare and know,

To Judgment come you must."

Millicent, wife of Thomas Osborne (1803), has this poetic effusion:

"While on this earth I did remain

I was oppressed with sorrow, grief and pain;
Adieu to friends and foes likewise,

My journey is beyond the skies."

Many homely and tender tributes, wrung from stricken hearts, are here recorded. The widow of John Jones thus feelingly refers to her grief and resignation:

"O! Most Cruel sudden death,

Thus did take my husband's breath,

But the Lord he thought it best."

Another tomb is inscribed "To the ever dear and sacred memory" of Lucy Leslie, æt. 37, (1778).

Here is an example of filial piety:

"My Grandfather, My Grandmother, My Mother,

My Father, My Little Sister, My Uncle."

Erected by Margaret M. Browne, 1861.

The following is addressed to a seven months' babe (1815).

"The great Jehovah from above

His Messenger did send,

To call the little harmless dove,
To joys that never end."

Maria and Eliza, daughters of Charles and Ann Warner, aged six and two years, have this epitaph (1792):

"Weep not for us our Parents dear,

We are not dead but sleeping here,
The debt is paid, our graves you see,
Prepare for Heaven's felicity."

Samuel I. Nesbitt Mercer, aged one year and one month (1808):

"Sweet Blossom! Blasted ere t'was blown,

but of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Another infant of the same age:

"Sleep lovely babe and take thy rest,

God called thee soon, because he thought it best."

as:

Over an adult:

"Go home my friends and cease

Your tears, I must lie here

'till Christ appears.

Repent in time, while time you have."

Hannah, "the amiable consort of John Greene," is eulogized

"An affectionate wife, tender parent and

virtuous friend, beloved while living and

now greatly lamented."

Rizpah Allen, 1809, æt. 52, has this tribute:

"Pressed with the hand of sore distress, in vain she wandered on; Till God, our Saviour, arm'd with love, in Mercy called her home."

There is peculiar pathos in the succeeding apparently original lines to John Penny," a native of England," æt. 30 (1823): "No kindred sigh, nor soft parental tear,

Soothed thy pale form or graced thy mourful bier.
With strangers was thy dying trust reposed,

By strangers' hands thy dying eyes were closed,
By strangers is thy Humble grave adorn'd,

By strangers honor'd, and by strangers mourn'd."