In Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., July 6th, 1857, Mrs. Lydia Clarke, wife of David Clarke, aged 63 years, 10 months and 25 days. One week previous to her death she was attacked by a violent fit of palsy, which paralyzed her left side entirely.
She came from Connecticut with her parents when but a child, and here were witnessed her many joys and sorrows. In early life she secured "the pearl of great price" and united with the Seventh-day Baptist church in Brookfield, and though ever a strict observer of the Bible Sabbath, she united with the Free-Will Baptist church several years previous to her departure from earth, of which she remained a devoted member until summoned to her home above.
She strove in everything to follow the teachings of her "Blessed Bible" which was her constant study. Though she had laid in the tomb four cherished children, had bid adieu to one (Mrs. L. M. Carpenter) who had gone forth to obey the mandate - "Preach the Gospel to the Heathen." Sorrows never brooded so heavily, but "her God and Bible were all she desired" to sooth each pang. Her every-day motto was "he that is prepared for death, is just fitted for life."
During her last illness she conversed about death with that calmness characteristic of a true Christian; and when the spirit departed, it was hardly visible, for life so sweetly ceased to be, it lapsed in immortality. The funeral services were attended on the 7th, ult., sermon by Eld S. D. Gardner, from Rev. 14, 13. F. I. L. C.
