Page:The Garland 1839.pdf/8

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MRS. HEMANS.
327

removed to Wavertree, near Liverpool, where she resided about three years, and then again removed to Dublin, where the expense of educating her sons would, she found, be more within her means. But sorrow, care, and the "wasting task and lone " of her minstrel vocation, had brought on a deep disease, which the sympathy of friends (and who that ever read the outpourings of her soul was not her friend?) could not alleviate or remove. She closed her life May 30th, 1835, "and died as stars go down," her genius bright and expanding to the last, and trust in her Redeemer calming every fear, and cheering the darkness of the tomb with the holy light of faith and love. She has gone from us, but the light of her genius will never be dimmed, nor the song of her harp for gotten. She has thrilled those chords of the human soul which, while the race of man continues, cannot but respond to her sentiments. Love, in all its purest, holiest, sweetest emotions of household affections, patriotism, and devotion, was the mighty spell by which she wrought, and till love shall cease from earth her name can never die.