Temperance > Autobiography and personal recollections of John B. Gough

DEPARTURE
AMERICA.
he had accumulated five hundred dollars, carefully saved from
his earnings. But after investing this in a dwelling-house, he
was forced to sacrifice it at the time of a financial crisis, and lost
the whole. With the exception of four years spent in the town
of Paxton, his home was Worcester during all his later life.
. In that city of his adoption, and near the scene of his best
labours, he peacefully closed his eyes in death, on Sunday, the 4th
of November, 1860. In the intermission of divine services, after
public prayer had been fervently offered in his behalf in the sanc¬
tuary, and a friend of his, and member of Mr. Gough’s family,
had gone from the church to his bedside, to convey to him re-
newedly messages of sympathy and affection, he entered, we hope,
the heavenly sanctuary, and became a worshipper before the
throne. Just after noon of the holy day, scarcely past the meri¬
dian of his own peaceful life, he passed away, to dwell in a world
where there is no night.
His funeral obsequies were observed at the Salem Street Church,
where he worshipped, when in health, with regularity and de¬
voutness. Three ministers of the gospel, of different denomina¬
tions, participated in the exercises, and Mr. Gough, by invita¬
tion, uttered a few touching and appropriate words. A large
company of mourners followed him to his burial, and laid him
in “Hope Cemetery,” to sleep until the grave shall give up its
Something ought to be said respecting the virtues of Mr. Strat¬
ton, for in some respects, though in humble life, he was a burning
and a shining light. He was a true friend of temperance. An
abstainer from childhood, he early united with the temperance
organization, and was a worker in the cause. Mr. Gough is not
the only man whom he has rescued, though Providence may
have made him the most distinguished. Of late years he belonged
to the order of the Sons of Temperance, and was rarely absent
from the weekly meeting of his division. At every temperance
lecture or sermon he was present, a quiet observer and interested
listener. The week in which he was taken ill he attended the
welcome-meeting which Worcester gave to Mr. Gough, on his