MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 153 



it to be the duty of every man, on changing his life, 

 to get a healthy woman for his wife, for the sake of 

 his children, and a sensible one, as a companion, 

 for his own happiness and comfort, that love is 

 the natural guide in this business, and much misery 

 is its attendant when that is wanting. This being 

 the fixed state of my mind, I permitted no 

 mercenary considerations to interfere. Impressed 

 with these sentiments, I had long, my dear Jane, 

 looked upon your mother as a suitable helpmate for 

 me. I had seen her in prosperity and in adversity; 

 and in the latter state she appeared to me to the 

 greatest advantage. In this she soared above her 

 sex, and my determination was fixed. In due time 

 we were married, and from that day to this no 

 cloud, as far as concerned ourselves, has passed 

 over us, to obscure a life-time of uninterrupted 

 happiness.* 



MY DEAR "BELL" DIED, 



AETER A LONG AND PAINFUL ILLNESS, 



ON THE IST OF FEBRUARY, 1826, 



AGED 72; 



THE BEST OF WIVES AND VERY BEST 

 OF MOTHERS. 



[ * Isabella Elliot, of Ovingham, Bewick's wife, was one of the 

 little girls whom he had " plagued " in his unregenerate boyhood 

 (vide Chapter ii.) He married her on the 2oth April, 1786, at which 

 time she was about thirty. The marriage took place at St. John's 

 Church, West Grainger Street, Newcastle ; and is thus entered in 

 the register : " Thomas Bewick & Isabella Elliot both of this 

 Chapelry were ma'rried in this chapel by Licence this Twentieth Day 

 of April 1786 by me Jn. Brown curate. This marriage was 

 solemnised between us (signed) Thomas Bewick Isabella Elliott In 

 the Presence of us (signed) Sarah Hunneyman Gilfrid Ward." 



U 



