As promised, the memorial to Mary (Worthen) Bliss Source: McKeen, Rev. Silas History of Bradford, Vermont, Montpelier, Vt., J.D. Clark & Son, 1875. Mrs. Mary W. Bliss When one who has lived an exemplary and useful life, passes finally away, it seems fit that some more accessible and satisfactory memorial than the inscription on the grave stone of the deceased, should be preserved; some, at least, brief obituary notice, which may contribute to keep the dear departed in perpetual and loving remembrance. The maiden name of Mrs. Bliss was Mary Worthen; a daughter of Mr. thomas and Mrs. Susanna Worthen. She was born April 11th, 1790. Her parents were worthy members of the Congregational Church, in her native place, Bradford, Vt., who sought to train up their children in the way they should go. Mary, when about eighteen years of age, became the wife of Mr. Ellis Bliss, of the same neighborhood; then some three years older than herself. Surrounded by kindred and friends, they directly commenced housekeeping, and remained in the same habitation during their subsequent lives. Captain Bliss died May 8th, 1851, in the fifty-fourth year of his age; but she continued nearly twenty-two years longer, thus occupying the same comfortable farm house, on the bank of Waite River, near the confluence with the Connecticut for the long period of sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss had thirteen children, two of whom died in their infancy; all the rest lived to marry and remove, one after another, to their several new homes, with the exception of one of the sons, who permanently remained with his mother, and at her decease, was left still in the old homestead, the last there belonging of all its former numerous and happy occupants. Mrs. Bliss left at her decease four sons and five daughters; somewhat widely dispersed through this country; among others, Neziah, a graduate of Vermont University, an attorney at law, in Missouri, and George, a practicing physician in Ohio. He, after an absence of thirty-six years, being informed of his mother's illness, directly telegraphed that he had set out for home; but the news, which but a few days before would have thrilled his mother's heart with joy, came a few hours too late! and when the Doctor, with his two daughters, arrived, her remains had been for two days resting in the silent tomb. A sad disappointment it was to the visitors; but there were kind brothers and sisters with other relatives and friends to receive them most cordially, and mingle their tears of grief and gladness with theirs. It may not be amiss to say here that Mr. Amos Worthen, State Geologist of Illinois, well and favorably known for his voluminous publications in that interesting department of natural science was a brother of the deceased and a native of Bradford. Mrs. Bliss left thirty-two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, a posterity of forty-nine persons to rise up and call her blessed. Her own children, know with what patience, loving kindness, and perseverance she labored through all their lives for their comfort; but the intense desire and consuming anxiety which she felt for their spiritual and everlasting good, they can never fully appreciate. She willingly wore out her life in ministering to others; in doing good to all, as she had opportunity. Solomon's descriptions of the virtuous women, in the 31st chapter of Proverbs, must have been penned with some such specimen as she was distinctly in view. But she did not depend on any of these things for salvation. During a season of special refreshing from the presence of the Lord, in the summer of 1831, she was moved to consecrate herself heartily to the blessed Saviour, and to trust in Him alone for pardon, sanctification and life everlasting. With more than thirty others, she that year made a public profession of her faith, and determination thenceforth, to be the Lord's and to serve Him, united with the same church to which her parents belonged, and so continued to the last She, while able to attend and hear, delighted in the public services of the Sabbath, and when deprived of these privileges found great satisfaction in her Bible and hymn book. In her last sickness she was sweetly resigned to the Divine will, beautifully sustained by the promises and consolations of the Gospel; and at the close of her last Sabbath on earth, May 2, 1873, at the age of eighty-three, lacking forty days, passed peacefully away to her final rest and blessedness in Heaven. On the subsequent Wednesday, her funeral services were attended at the church where she had long been accustomed to worship, and her precious remains laid down to repose with her kindred dead until "all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth." God grant that all those for whose salvation she so longed prayed and labored, may with her arise to glory, honor, and a blessed immortality S.McK.