more amiable virtues of the mind. All who know her appreciate her amiability
of character. Her watchful devotion to her invalid husband during his
protracted illness was the admiration of every one. "Here the spirit
of the wife and mother rose superior to an ordinary nature. Night after
night, without closing her eyes, did she watch 'with patient, vigilant,
never-wearied love,' at the bedside of the object of her long-cherished
affections. Week after week and month after month, did she patiently devote
to the languishing sufferer. With noiseless step would she pace the chamber,
fearful lest the slightest foot-fall should disturb the hoped-for slumber
of her idol-one. No toil, no privation, was shunned by her. Untiring and
self-sacrificing in her disposition, her world was narrowed to the limits
of the sick one's wants, hopes, and changes. The angels of heaven must
contemplate such conduct with looks of love and admiration. It is in such
moments we appreciated the mother, the wife, the woman."
From the day of marriage to the death of her beloved husband--the "beloved
physician"--they were never separated ; and it is worthy of especial
remark, that this is the first and only death in the family that has ever
occurred ; while there is not a house nor a family in the town and those
adjoining, numbering some fifteen or twenty thousand inhabitants--save,
perhaps, the more recent settlers--where there has not been some change
by death or removal, except this ; which has remained the same, "unchanged
and unharmed," till this visitation, for upwards of forty years.
Here had they happily lived together, surrounded by their children's children,
fully realizing the truth of the wise man's saying, "The just walketh
in his integrity ; his children are blessed after him."
A trifling incident of a domestic nature, but not too trivial, perhaps,
to he noticed here, will serve to show how accidental and arbitrary often
are the names of children. Each of the fond parents had a favorite family
name to bestow upon the first-born, and it was decided to place them with
others among some blanks and draw for a choice. Fortune decided in favor
of both, and the names were then united, and impressed, at the
baptismal font, upon the future man.
Dr. Page was a man of large stature and good form, and of mild and benignant
countenance. It beamed with a lively intelligence, and a good natural
expression of mirth and cheerfulness lay over all. His head was small,
his eye reflective, but clear and benignant, and his whole features expressivel
of the livelier affections of charity and love. He was regularly handsome
in youth, and even in the decline of life and under afflicted health,
was a person of prepossessing and commanding appearance. He possessed
the qualities of a true gentleman, suavity and benevolence of disposition,
a nice perception of the properties of social life, and a spirit of deference
to the feelings and rights of others.
In youth he was gifted with sound health and strength. While a pupil
at Exeter, his father's dwelling, which was directly opposite the Academy,
caught fire and was consumed. During the progress of the flames he entered
one of the rooms and removed a large book-case with all its contents,
and safely deposited it in the street. The next morning he in vain attempted
to raise it, and could never afterwards move it from