The Last Words Of Distinguished Men And Women Part 24

NEWTON (John, English divine. His early life was that of a profligate sailor engaged in the African slave-trade. After his conversion he became the friend of the poet Cowper, and with him wrote the "Olney Hymns"). 1725-1807. "_I am satisfied with the Lord's will._" Last recorded words.

NEWTON (Richard, an English divine, founder of Hertford College, Oxford), 1676-1753. "_Christ Jesus the Saviour of sinners and life of the dead. I am going, going to Glory! Farewell sin! Farewell death!

Praise the Lord!_"

NOTT (Eliphalet, American clergyman, President of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., for more than sixty years), 1773-1866. "_One word, one word--Jesus Christ!_"

NOURSE (Rebecca, a good and brave woman who, in the old Puritan-days, suffered as a witch at Salem, Ma.s.s.), 1621-1692. Her last words are not preserved, but it is recorded that just before her death she declared her innocence and appealed to the judgment of Almighty G.o.d. The story of her death forms one of the saddest of the many distressing chapters in the history of early New England.

Mrs. Nourse was a very devout woman, and probably the hardest blow of all was the action of the First Congregational Church, of which she was a member. The records still preserved read as follows:

"After Sacrament the elders propounded to the church, and it was by unanimous vote consented to, that our Sister Nourse, being a convicted witch, and condemned to die, be excommunicated, which was accordingly done in the afternoon, she being present."

The scene presented on this occasion must have been as impressive at the time, as it is shocking to us in the retrospect. The s.p.a.cious meeting-house was filled with people. The sheriff, accompanied by his deputy brought in the prisoner, manacled, with the chains clanking from her side. The two elders, Higginson and Noyes, as the clergy were then called, delivered an address over the sorrow-burdened form condemning her to eternal punishment.

Then came the day of execution, July 19, 1692. At an early hour the little village was bristling with activity. "The devil's angel on earth"

was to be punished with the death she deserved, and so the Puritan maidens attired themselves in holiday dress to honor the event. The procession to the gallows was a long one, scores of people from the neighboring towns and villages taking part. The victim, manacled and guarded by the sheriff and his deputy, headed the line, while close behind followed troops of men and women who laughed, deeming it rare sport to see the agonized faces of the terror-stricken family as they watched the mother and wife grow pale, and tremble as she began the ascent of the rocky cliff whose top was crowned with the instrument of death. It is impossible in words to depict the scene of the execution in the horrible colors in which tradition has painted it. With firm steps and eyes upturned to heaven, the gray-haired woman took her place on the drop. Silently the hangman tied the rope before the eager waiting a.s.sembly; then a momentary hush pa.s.sed over the crowd--the executioner's duty was done. A moment later all that was left to tell the story was the body of the aged woman swinging gently in the summer wind.

Seldom has a woman met with a harder fate. Her body was thrown with the previous victims into a hole in a crevice of the rocks, and hastily covered with earth. Then the ma.s.ses of spectators turned homeward, leaving the bereaved family at the homestead uncared for and ignored by their once firm friends.

It is a family tradition that in some way the remains of Mrs. Nourse were recovered by her husband and sons and interred in the spot which is now pointed out on the estate as her grave. Imagination only can recall the details of the event, so sad and awful. In the darkness of night the sons hasten to the new-made grave, throw off the slight covering of earth, and by the feeble light of a lantern discover the remains. What feelings of revenge and sorrow must have stirred their hearts as they raised their mother's soulless frame tenderly in their arms, and carried it along through woods and valleys, over highways and fields to the homestead, where, on the following night, the three p.r.o.nounced the only burial service over the remains, as they lowered the body into a newly-made grave in their own consecrated grounds, which down through the generations has been reverently guarded.

A beautiful shaft of granite has been erected over her grave by her descendants. The monument is of Rockport and Quincy granite, and is eight and a half feet high. The base and apex are of Rockport granite, and the die of Quincy granite, polished and lettered as follows:

REBECCA NOURSE.

YARMOUTH, ENGLAND.

1621.

SALEM, Ma.s.s.

1692.

O Christian martyr, who for truth could die, When all about thee owned the hideous lie, The world redeemed from superst.i.tion's sway, Goes breathing freer, for thy sake, to-day.

(On the reverse.)

Accused of witchcraft, she declared, "I am innocent, and G.o.d will clear my innocency." Once acquitted, yet falsely condemned, she suffered death July 19, 1692.

In loving memory of her Christian character, even then fully attested by forty of her neighbors, this monument is erected July, 1885.

NEY (famous French marshal, "The bravest of the brave"), 1769-1815.

"_Soldiers--fire!_" said to the soldiers appointed to dispatch him.

Some say his last words were: "Comrades, straight to the heart, fire!"

While repeating these words, he took off his hat, it is said, with his left hand, and placed his right hand upon his heart. The officer gave the signal with sword at the same moment, and the marshal instantly fell dead, pierced with twelve b.a.l.l.s, three of which took effect in the head.

NOYES (John, the martyr). "_We shall not lose our lives in this fire, but change them for a better, and for coals, have pearls_," said to a fellow martyr.

OATES (t.i.tus), about 1619-1705. "_It is all the same in the end._"

t.i.tus Oates was the son of an anabaptist minister, but was educated for the Church of England, and received an appointment as chaplain in the royal navy. He was dismissed in disgrace from the navy, and united with the Jesuits. Later he rejoined the Church of England, and revealed a pretended popish plot, which resulted in the execution and imprisonment of many innocent persons. For this he received a large pension, and was granted a residence at Whitehall, where he lived until the death of Charles II. Under King James he was convicted of perjury and publicly whipped. William III. pensioned him.

An old acrostic, in a book published by Nat. Thompson, the bookseller, "at the entrance into the Old Spring Garden near Charing Cross," during the reign of Charles II., has this choice description of t.i.tus Oates:

Trayter to G.o.d, d.a.m.n'd source of blasphemy, Insect of h.e.l.l, grand ma.s.s of perjury; Thorough-pac'd villain, second unto none, Unless to Judas (if by him out-done), Satan's black agent, h.e.l.l's monopoly, Of all that's called sin and villainy; Accursed parent of an h.e.l.l-bred brood, Teacher of lies, spiller of guiltless blood; England's dark cloud, eclipsing all her glory; Satan's delight, and h.e.l.l's repository.

O'CAROLAN, or CAROLAN (Turlough, famous Irish bard and musical composer), 1670-1738. "_It would be hard indeed if we two dear friends should part after so many years, without one sweet kiss._" These words were spoken to a bowl of wine which he kissed when he was no longer able to drink.

OLIVER (Francois, Chancellor of France), 1497-1560. "_O Cardinal! thou wilt make us all to be d.a.m.ned_," to Cardinal Lorrain under whom he had condemned to death many innocent men for their faith. He fell sick through remorse, and in his delirium charged Cardinal Lorrain with bringing down upon him the wrath of G.o.d.

ORANGE (William, Prince of, called "William the Silent," founder of the Dutch Republic), 1533-1584. "_I do_," in response to his sister's question, "Dost thou commend thy soul to Jesus Christ?"

William staggered and fell into the arms of an equerry. All crowded round. "I am wounded," said William in a feeble voice.... "G.o.d have mercy on me and on my poor people!" He was all covered with blood. His sister, Catherine of Schwartzburg, asked, "Dost thou commend thy soul to Jesus Christ?" He answered, in a whisper, "I do." It was his last word. They placed him on one of the steps and spoke to him, but he was no longer conscious. They then bore him into a room near by, where he died.--_De Amicis: "Holland."_

The a.s.sa.s.sin was put to death by the Dutch, but his parents were enn.o.bled and richly rewarded by Philip II. of Spain. Philip had offered a reward for the prince's murder, and five separate attempts had been made previously to kill him.

ORLEANS (Louis Philippe Joseph, Duc d', surnamed "egalite"), 1747-1793.

"_They will come off better after: let us have done_," to the executioner who was about to draw off the duke's boots.

OWEN (Robert, socialistic writer and philanthropist), 1771-1858.

"_Relief has come._"

OWEN (John, English non-conformist divine and author, chaplain to Cromwell, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1651, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He was a man of great ability and devoted piety), 1616-1683. The first sheet of his "Meditations on the Glory of Christ"

had pa.s.sed through the press under the superintendence of the Rev.

William Payne; ... and on that person calling on him to inform him of the circ.u.mstances, on the morning of the day he died, he exclaimed with uplifted hands, and eyes looking upward, "_I am glad to hear it; but, O brother Payne! the long-wished-for day is come at last, in which I shall see that glory in another manner than I have ever done, or was capable of doing, in this world._"

_From Quotation in Allibone._

PAINE (Thomas, author of "Common Sense," "The Rights of Man" and "The Age of Reason"), 1737-1809. "_I have no wish to believe on that subject._" These words were in answer to his physician's inquiry: "Do you wish to believe that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d?"

There is a dispute with regard to Paine's death. Some writers say he recanted and became a Christian, while others affirm that he died as he lived--an avowed Deist. In his last will and testament he says: "I have lived an honest and useful life to mankind; my time has been spent in doing good; and I die in perfect composure and resignation to the will of my creator, G.o.d." On the other hand some authors say that he was grossly intemperate and licentious, and that he discarded Christianity, not so much from conviction as from a base desire to lead a bad life.

"In 1802, he (Paine) returned to America and resided a part of the time on a farm at New Roch.e.l.le, presented to him by the State of New York for his Revolutionary service. Paine became very intemperate, and fell low in the social scale, not only on account of his beastly habits, but because of his blasphemous tirade against Christianity."

_Lossing in "Our Countrymen."_

Of Paine's last hours Rev. O. B. Frothingham speaks as follows:

"The truth is, that Paine, though not rich, was in comfortable circ.u.mstances. He had considerable property, which is specified in his will. His sick bed was surrounded by friends who ministered to his wants, witnessed the firmness and calmness of his last hours, and attested the sincerity and sufficiency of his convictions. Not even the impertinent intrusiveness of the clergy disturbed the entire serenity of his death."