Page:James Thomason (Temple).djvu/76

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68
JAMES THOMASON

with their hardships, as a reason for cheerful patience on her own part. She evinced all the sweetness and fortitude that spring from faith. Speaking of her husband she said, 'Ours was an ideal happiness. You do not know what he has been to me; he is my all[1].' Her mind at ease regarding the future arrangements for the children, she asked that the sixth chapter of Galatians[2] might be read to her. She heard with dying ear of the 'Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' Next she begged that the fifth chapter of Corinthians II might be read, and was still able to hear that, 'we are confident and willing to be absent from the body, and be present with the Lord.' As the end drew nigh, the seventh chapter of Revelation was read; the tenth verse was reached, and while the words 'our God which sitteth upon the throne and the Lamb,' were being pronounced, there came a sudden pressure of her hand, and then stillness for ever.

She is buried in the churchyard of Charlton near Woolwich, on an eminence characteristic of Kentish scenery, and overlooking Greenwich Park with the Thames. The ridge is now built over with houses, and the noble elm-grove of those days has disappeared. It is close to Blackheath, and Thomason, when recently staying there, doubtless saw the shady

  1. This is recorded by her sister.
  2. It will be seen hereafter that Thomason on his death-bed asked that this chapter might be read to him because it had been read to her on this occasion.