James O. Broadhead, widow of my old preceptor; Colonel and Miss Dahlgren; and Reverend James Wise and wife. The total number at dinner including my wife, daughter Elizabeth and myself, numbered thirty-five. During the evening there were many callers, and altogether there was a happy gathering. Since that joyous day, many of those present have passed into that "undiscovered country from which no traveller returns," among them being my wife and my daughter-in-law, Julia Gregg Dyer, Mrs. Martha L. Burnett, Senator William Warner, Mrs. James O. Broadhead, Miss Dahlgren, and Colonel Levi P. Hunt. The fifty years of our married life were passed but a gracious Providence permitted almost six years more to go by before the family circle that gathered together on the 15th of November, 1910, was broken. On the 1st day of January, 1916, the soul of my wife took its flight to the world beyond the stars. How faithful, sweet, loving and patient she had been for the fifty-six years of our married life no one can measure. In this loss I was greatly comforted by the children she had borne, by Claudine Hunt, her sister, and by gentle and loving friends. Some kind friend (I do not know whom) sent me a copy of a beautiful prayer that had been said by a husband bereft as I was. This prayer I have repeated many times, and I insert it here, to the end that others may see and appreciate it when I am gone: Grant unto her, O Lord, eternal rest and let light perpetually shine upon her. O, God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, in whose embrace all creatures live, in whatsoever world or condition they be, I beseech Thee for her whose name and dwelling place Thou knowest. Lord, vouchsafe her light and rest, peace and refreshment, joy and consolation in Paradise, in the companionship of saints, in the presence of Christ, in the ample folds of Thy great love. Grant that her life (so troubled here) may unfold itself in Thy sight and find a sweet employment in the spacious fields of eternity. If she hath ever been hurt or mained by any unhappy word or deed of mine, I pray Thee of Thy great pity to heal and restore her, that she may serve Thee without hindrance. Tell her, O gracious Lord, if it may be, how much I love her and miss her and how I long to see her again: and if there be ways in which she may come, vouchsafe her to me as a guide and guard and grant me a sense of her nearness in such degree as Thy laws permit. If in aught I can minister to her peace be pleased of Thy love to let this be, and mercifully keep me from every act which may deprive me of sight of her as soon as our trial time is over or mar the fulness of our joy when the end of the days hath come. Pardon, O gracious Lord and Father, whatsoever is amiss in my prayer, and let Thy will be done, for my will is blind and erring but Thine is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. XVII OCTOGENARIAN Eleven Years on the Bench-My Eightieth Birthday Celebrated by Friends - Reprint of Speeches and Letters-Retirement. I never was and never pretended to be the equal in learning and legal ability of the distinguished men who preceded me on the bench of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, but in the eleven years that I served as judge, prior to my 80th anniversary, I was fortunate in having the confidence and friendship of many judges, lawyers, and other citizens. On the morning of February 12, 1918, there was assembled in the Court room in which I presided, a large gathering of my friends and acquaintances. On that day the following proceedings took place. |