Harford Mills.
Mrs. Annie HAY, widow of the late Lansing HAY, died in the town of Harford, May 10th, of cancer, aged 71. Mrs. HAY was born in the town of West Winfield, Herkimer county. Her maiden name was GATES. She was married to Lansing HAY, March 1826 at the age of 17. In December of the same year they moved to Virgil (now Lapeer), in Cortland county. Bidding adieu to dear home friends and young associates this youthful pair came here to seek a home in an almost unknown wilderness, whose gigantic forms cat their shadows to the very door of their log-ribbed cabin. Together they shared the trials and the hardships, the privations and the toils of pioneer life. But fortune (as she ever will) smiled upon their frugal industry, and a farm spread out in beauty to their view. Here their children first prattled and made the old home ring with their glee; matured and passed out to substantial homes of their own. During all these years Mrs. HAY faithfully performed all the duties of a faithful wife, a kind and indulgent mother, and a good and charitable neighbor. Her instruction, influence and example, among her children were such as to lead them to lives of rectitude and happiness. Her four mourning children all live in this vicinity; they are Mrs. L. E. HAY, Mrs. J. DAVIS, Mrs. H. C. GRAY and Mrs. R. JENNINGS. For many years the Christmas reunions were faithfully observed. For over fifty years Mr. and Mrs. HAY lived upon the same farm until nearly three years ago, when a shadow crossed the hearth stone and the husband and father passed away. It was then considered best to sell the farm. It was a hard trial to the mother and children to see the old farm pass into the hands of strangers. Mrs. HAY bought a home and removed to Harford Mills, where near her children, she hoped to pass a peaceful old age. But her happiness was destined to be of short duration; soon the unmistakable signs of cancer made themselves apparent; their developments were so rapid as to soon baffle the skill of the physicians. From that time on her sufferings were extreme. As her sufferings increased she nestled closer to the bleeding side of her savior, and in the contemplation of his sufferings and death sought fortitude to bear her own. Her spirit fluttered like a bird imprisoned and longed to be free from the torturing clay. The funeral services were held at the residence of Mr. R. JENNINGS, Rev. Edward TYLER officiating. Many kind friends and neighbors assembled to pay their last respects to a noble woman; sadly they followed her ashes to their last resting-place to mingle dust with dust, weeping as though almost unconscious that her spirit had taken its flight, and was now hovering nearer and nearer the Throne, basking in the ethereal light of the Father's boundless love. How soon this will be our common lot! A few more fleeting years and this family's reunion will be complete in that blissful land where the flowers bloom perennial, and the cup is not dregged with gall.
