A Biographical Sketch of the Life and Character of Joseph Charless | Page 6

feel, all that you say and do.
Affectionately yours, GRANDMA.
BELMONT, January, 1860.

Letter Four

MY DEAR GRANDCHILDREN:
Twelve months have elapsed since I first made an attempt, by writing,
to make you acquainted with your beloved grandfather, who departed
this life on the 4th of June, 1859.
I am still a mourner-–such an one as I hope, as I earnestly pray, none of
you may ever be. My poor heart is desolate! I have no home in this
world, and I long for Heaven. I would gladly lay me down in the grave,
but God knows what is best for me, and He does all things well. Then
to my task, for I have a portrait to make-–a portrait for you to look at,
to imitate, to love, and to reverence. Not a likeness of the external man:
you have that to perfection-–so perfect that a friend, who knew him
well, remarked, upon looking at it, that the artist must have been
inspired. But to show the inner life and the daily walk of that dear man
who, for twenty-seven years, six months and twenty-seven days, was
the sharer of my joys and sorrows, and the prop of my earthly existence,
is a more delicate task. In a few words I could sum up his life and
character, for there was nothing extraordinary in it, excepting
extraordinary goodness; but, then, how could my dear children, from a
few abstract ideas thrown hastily together, see the path he trod, in all its
windings, compare it with that of others, and with their own, and learn
the lessons it teaches? I do not mean by “extraordinary goodness” that
your grandfather had no faults-–that he never did wrong-–for then, you
know, he would have been an angel, not a man.

With these preliminaries, I shall endeavor, in much weakness, to set
him before you in such a light that you will not fail to see and
understand him, and to feel, too, the sweet influences of a presence that
always brought with it happiness and peace.
On the 8th of May, 1830, my father, Captain Peter Blow, arrived at St.
Louis with his family, consisting of my mother, my two sisters, my
four brothers, and myself. We landed at the wharf of our future home
on the steamer Atlantic. This being the finest boat that had ever reached
this distant western city, the Captain, who was evidently proud of it,
proposed to give to the good citizens of this goodly city of ten thousand
inhabitants a select pleasure-party on board of her, that, with music,
dancing and feasting, they might, to the best advantage, appreciate its
dimensions, its comforts and elegancies. My sisters and self having
accepted the cordial invitation of the Captain, who had treated us with
great kindness and consideration while passengers on his boat, and,
attended by our father and a gentleman whom we had formerly known,
and who had been residing in the city for a few months, made our
appearance for the first time in St. Louis society. Our mother, who was
a perfect pattern of propriety, advised us to equip ourselves in our
nicest street dresses, and, being strangers, not to participate at all in the
dance. Consequently, we were there in the position of “lookers-on in
Vienna.” We made good use of our eyes, and kept time to the music in
our hearts, but used our feet only in promenading. During the evening I
observed several ladies with much interest, but was greatly attracted
with but one gentleman, whom I first noticed sitting opposite to us,
leaning back in his chair. There was a calm serenity overspreading his
handsome features, which wore a joyousness of expression that was
irresistible. I pointed him out to our escort, and inquired who he was.
He could not tell me; still I could not but observe him. He waltzed once
with the belle of the evening (a Miss Selby). My eyes followed them;
and I see your dear grandfather now, just as he looked then. He was
about the medium size –-five feet nine inches high, and well
proportioned; his complexion rather fair, hair dark. His beard was
closely shaved, but showed, from the soft, penciled tints about his
mouth and chin, that it was likewise black. His eyes were grey. With
considerable gaiety of disposition, he evinced a gentleness, a suavity,

and a modest grace of deportment, which I have never seen surpassed,
if equaled.
In a few weeks Mr. Charless sought an introduction to us, and from that
time he became a constant visitor at our house, and in fifteen months
from our first acquaintance, he declared himself a suitor for my hand
and heart, promising to use the best efforts of his life to make me