Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/123

Rh has been ever since his best monument. On its walls a tablet erected by the unanimous vote of the congregation records his virtues and his liberality.

In 1853, Mr. Carter's mother-in-law, Mrs. Thomson, left her beautiful home upon the Hudson, where the cares of her hospitable mansion were growing heavy for her increasing years, and came to live with her daughter in New York. Her presence in Mr. Carter’s family was a constant benediction. She was as a second mother to his children, already so fully blessed in their own mother. Her beautiful, unselfish life left on them an impress never to be forgotten. Perhaps the two things most strongly associated in their minds with her were the Bible which was her constant reading, and the needle with which her ever active and skilful fingers were so steadily employed. She was a veritable Dorcas in preparing “coats and garments” for the poor. Never did fingers fly faster than hers, and never were stitches more beautifully set. Such was the loving kindness of her nature that only strangers thought of calling her Mrs. Thomson, while Auntie Thomson was a familiar name in many homes. On her lips was the law of kindness, and indeed all the description of the virtuous woman of Proverbs might be applied to her. Beecher says that no home is complete without the baby’s cradle and the grandmother’s rocking-chair, and certainly the corner that held that capacious rocker with its venerable occupant was a blessed feature in Mr. Carter’s home. He and his mother-in-law loved each other as own mother and son. For six weeks of every autumn his own mother came from Saratoga County to occupy another rocking-chair in the family room, and the two silver-haired old ladies made a beautiful picture as they sat together.