12 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



she was dead. I inquired what that meant, (for I believe I 

 had then no distinct idea of death.) They replied that an 

 angel had come in the night and taken grandma's soul up 

 to heaven through the window. This was my earliest 

 impression of death, and I believe it has not been without 

 an influence upon my feelings in subsequent years in rela- 

 tion to that solemn event, diminishing its terrors by the 

 association with an angel visit. 



In connection with the memory of my maternal grand- 

 parents, I will mention my visit to Stonington in 171)2. 

 My mother, then fifty-six years of age, my half-brother, 

 Rev. John Xovos, then thirty, and myself, thirteen years 

 old, formed the little party. We had a chaise, and a saddle- 

 horse on which I rode, mother and brother being in the 

 chaise. At Norwich we lodged in the hospitable house 

 of my mother's affectionate friend, Dr. Joshua Lathrop, 

 whoso lady was daughter of the Rev. Mr. Eells, my grand- 

 father Fish's particular friend and neighbor, as well as min- 

 isterial coadjutor, as he was settled over another parish in 

 Stonington. These families visited each other often. The 

 house of Mr. Eells was situated up a narrow lane some 

 distance from the road. My grandfather had sold a swift 

 Narragansett black mare, which ho and the family had 

 often rode to the house of his friend ; and this horse came 

 into the possession of Dr. Franklin, who, in one of his 

 journeys to Boston, came unconsciously opposite to the 

 lane leading to the house of Mr. Eells; (for gentlemen in 

 that day travelled chiefly on horseback.) The horse in- 

 stantly wheeled towards the house, and the rider applied 

 whip and spur and voice in vain to force the animal along 

 the public road. At length he gave her the rein, and away 

 she flew for the house, and was soon at the door. The 

 family, seeing a strange gentleman ride up, soon lined the 

 windows ; and the reverend gentleman coming out made a 

 courteous bow to the traveller, as if to bid him welcome. 

 He raised his hat in turn, and added, " Sir, my name is 



