The Last Words Of Distinguished Men And Women Part 34

WEBSTER (William, English clergyman and author of "The Life of General Monk"), 1689-1758. "_Peace._"

WEED (Thurlow, American journalist and politician. He wrote "Letters from Europe and the West Indies," and for many years edited with marked ability, "_The Albany Evening Journal_"), 1797-1882. "_I want to go home._"

During his last hours his mind wandered, and he thought himself in conversation with President Lincoln and General Scott with regard to the Southern Confederacy.

WESLEY (Charles, English hymn-writer whose sacred songs are sung, in original or translation, all over the Christian world. He is the author of "Love divine, all love excelling," "Jesus, lover of my soul," and "Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day"), 1708-1788. "_I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness--satisfied!_"

WESLEY (John, founder of the Methodist Episcopal Church), 1703-1791.

"_The best of all is G.o.d is with us._"

His body lay in a kind of state in his chapel at London the day previous to his interment, dressed in his clerical habit, with gown, ca.s.sock, and band, the old clerical cap on his head, a Bible in one hand, and a white handkerchief in the other. The funeral service was read by one of his old preachers. When he came to the part of the service, "Forasmuch as it hath pleased G.o.d to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother," his voice changed, and he subst.i.tuted the word "father;" and the feeling with which he did this was such, that the congregation, who were shedding silent tears, burst at once into loud weeping.--"_Southey's Life of Wesley._"

WESLEY (Sarah, wife of Charles Wesley). "_Open the gates! Open the gates!_"

WHITAKER (William, English theologian, professor of Divinity at Cambridge, and translator of the "Liturgy of the Church" and "Nowell's Catechism" into Greek), 1547-1595. "_Life or death is welcome to me; and I desire not to live, but so far as I may be serviceable to G.o.d and His church._"

WHITE (Joseph Blanco. In Spain, where he was born, he was called Blanco, which he exchanged for its English equivalent. He wrote many interesting and useful books, but will be remembered longest for his exquisite sonnet, ent.i.tled "Night"), 1775-1841. "_Now I die._"

He remained some days longer, chiefly in the state of one falling asleep, until the morning of the 20th, when he awoke, and with a firm voice and great solemnity of manner, spoke only these words: "Now I die." He sat as one in the att.i.tude of expectation, and about two hours afterward--it was as he had said.

There was no apparent pain or struggle, and it was an inexpressible relief to behold, shortly after, the singular beauty and repose of features lately so wan and suffering; but there took place in the act of expiring, what we had observed in other cases after long exhaustion, but had never seen described. A sudden darkness beneath the surface, like the clouding of a pure liquid from within; the immediate shadow of Death was pa.s.sing from the forehead downwards, and leaving all clear again behind it as it moved along.

_Thom's "Life of Joseph Blanco White."_

Compare the death-bed of the Deist, Joseph Blanco White, with that of poor Keats, and I think it must be admitted that both in faith and fort.i.tude the former has immeasurably the advantage. It ought, however, to be recollected that Blanco White was older, and had had more time to gain strength of mind. But he was also of a more religious turn from the first.

_Memoirs and Letters of Sara Coleridge._

WHITEFIELD (George, founder of the Calvinistic Methodist Church, and chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon), 1714-1770. "_I am dying._" He was standing by the open window gasping for breath, as he uttered these words. A friend persuaded him to sit down in a chair, and have a cloak thrown over him, and thus seated he quietly pa.s.sed away.

"David Hume p.r.o.nounced Whitefield the most ingenious preacher he had ever heard, and said it was worth while to go twenty miles to hear him.

But perhaps the greatest proof of his persuasive powers was when he drew from Benjamin Franklin's pocket the money which that clear, cool reasoner had determined not to give."--_Robert Southey._

WHITMAN (Walt, American poet and army nurse), 1819-1892. "_O, he's a dear, good fellow_," said of Thomas Donaldson, one of his most enthusiastic friends, and later his biographer.

There was a most pathetic incident connected with Mr. Whitman's death.

It was related to me by "Warry" Fritzinger, his nurse. Warry had arranged a rope above Mr. Whitman's head, in the bed, which was attached to a bell below. He would pull this rope after he became weak, and thus ring the bell to attract attention. Prior to this time he had used his heavy cane to pound the floor with. This brought a.s.sistance at once.

Just before he died, as the great change came over him--he was conscious that it was a great change, a something unusual (Mrs. Davis and Warry were by his side)--he seemed as if groping for something. Death had called for him, and as the call came, he attempted to reach above his head with one of his hands and feel for the rope, as if to call for help. In an instant the arm dropped, and soon he was dead.

_Donaldson: "Walt Whitman the Man."_

Whitman has, amid the fleshly and physical poems, much that is deeply spiritual; amid the tuneless and formless, much n.o.ble thought fitly voiced. The higher mood and the higher work may be seen in "O Captain!

my Captain!" "Reconciliation," "Vigil on the Fields," "The City Dead-House," "Song of the Broad Axe," "Proud Music of the Storm," "The Mystic Trumpeter," "Seash.o.r.e Memories," and the death-carols of the "Pa.s.sage to India."

_Welsh: "Digest of English and American Literature."_

WHITTIER (John Greenleaf, distinguished American poet), 1807-1892. "_I have known thee all the time_," to his niece in response to her question, "Do you know me?"

Others say his last words were, "Give my love to the world."

Upon the silver coffin-plate was the inscription: "John Greenleaf Whittier, December 17, 1807, September 7, 1892." The face of the dead man wore an expression of peace and perfect repose. All around his head and body was a delicate fringe of maidenhair fern. Directly over his breast was a superb wreath of white roses, carnations and maidenhair ferns from that other loved poet and dear friend, for whom Whittier wrote his last poem, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. Upon the lid was a cl.u.s.ter of white carnations from Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, and at the foot were two crossed palms with white lilies. At the last were roses and maidenhair ferns. A broad white satin ribbon encircled the palms and sprays, and upon the ends, delicately painted, were the inscriptions: "In memory of John Greenleaf Whittier, September 7, 1892,"

and this verse:

"Some sweet morning, yet in G.o.d's Dim aeonian periods, Joyful I shall wake to see Those I love, who rest in Thee.

And to them, in Thee allied, Shall my soul be satisfied."

Upon the card were these words: "In memoriam of my husband's dear friend. This verse of Andrew Rykman's prayer was used for consolation by him who wrote it in the hour of death. Mrs. Daniel Lathrop."

_N. Y. Tribune, September 12, 1892._

WIELAND (Christoph Martin, celebrated German poet, first translator of Shakspeare's works into the German language, founder and editor of the "Deutscher Mercur." His most celebrated poem is "Oberon"), 1733-1813.

"_To sleep--to die._"

WILBERFORCE (William, British statesman and philanthropist), 1759-1833.

"_Heaven!_" Some say his last words were: "I now feel so weaned from earth, my affections so much in heaven, that I can leave you all without regret; yet I do not love you less, but G.o.d more."

WILD (Jonathan, noted highwayman, the hero of many a chap-book of his day, and the hero and t.i.tle of a novel by Fielding), 1682-1725. "_Lord Jesus receive my soul!_" Unfortunately there is some doubt as to the genuineness of these pious words, for they come to us through the chaplain of the prison, Rev. Thomas Pureney, a man of whom we have this description in Charles Whibley's "Book of Scoundrels:"

"Pureney yielded without persuasion to the pleasures denied his cloth.

There was ever a fire to extinguish at his throat, nor could he veil his wanton eye at the sight of a pretty wench. Again and again the l.u.s.t of preaching urged him to repent, yet he slid back upon his past gaiety, until 'Parson Pureney' became a by-word. Dismissed from Newmarket in disgrace, he wandered the country up and down in search of a pulpit, but so infamous became the habit of his life that only in prison could he find an audience fit and responsive."

WILLARD (Frances Elizabeth, American reformer and temperance advocate), 1839--. "_How beautiful to be with G.o.d._"

Shortly before Frances Willard's death she took notice of Hoffman's picture of Christ on the wall, which had been given to her by Lady Henry Somerset, and directed that it be taken back to Lady Henry with this inscription: "Only the golden rule of Christ can bring the golden age of man." Her last words were "How beautiful to be with G.o.d."

_Rev. C. C. Carpenter._

WILLIAM I. (of England, surnamed "The Conqueror"), 1025-1087. "_I commend myself to the blessed Lady Mary, hoping by her intercessions to be reconciled to her most dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ._"

WILLIAM III. (of England), 1650-1702. "_Can this last long?_" to his physician.

WILMOT (John, Earl of Rochester, witty and profligate courtier and author, and a great favorite with Charles II. Notwithstanding his evil life, he was a brave soldier and had many attractive qualities), 1647-1680. "_The only objection against the Bible is a bad life._"

WILSON (Alexander, distinguished ornithologist), 1766-1813. His last words are not recorded, but just before his death he asked to be buried where the birds might sing over his grave.[53]

[53] Walter von der Vogelweid requested that he might repose where a leafy tree should cast its shadow, and the light of the summer day should linger long; and that the birds might be fed every day from the stone over his grave. See Longfellow's beautiful poem, "Walter von der Vogelweid."