of Embley in this County, and of Lea Hurst,
Derbyshire.
Died January 5th, 1874, in his eightieth year.
“And in Thy Light shall we see Light.”—Ps. xxxvi. 9.
After her father’s death, Miss Nightingale spent much of her time with her widowed mother at Embley and Lea Hurst, between which residences the winter and summer were divided as in the old days. It was well known that “Miss Florence’s” preference was for Lea Hurst, and she would linger there some seasons until the last golden leaves had fallen from the beeches in her favourite “walk” in Lea Woods.
Some of the old folks had passed away and the young ones had settled in homes of their own, but no change in the family history of the people escaped Miss Florence. She ministered through her private almoner to the wants of the sick, and bestowed her name and blessing on many of the cottage babes. By her thoughtful provision a supply of fresh, pure milk from the dairy of Lea Hurst was daily sent to those who were in special need of it. People on the estate recall that before she left in the autumn “Miss Florence” always gave directions that a load of holly and evergreens should be cut from Lea Woods and sent to the Nurses’ Home at St. Thomas’s, the District Nurses’ Home in Bloomsbury Square, and the Harley Street Home, for Christmas decoration.
CLAYDON HOUSE, THE SEAT OF SIR EDMUND VERNEY, WHERE THE “FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE” ROOMS ARE PRESERVED.
(Photo by Payne, Aylesbury.)
[To face p. 320.
On February 1st, 1880, Miss Nightingale suffered another loss in the death of her beloved mother, whose last years she had so faithfully tended as far as her strength would allow. Mrs. Nightingale, to whose beautiful character and example her famous daughter owes so much, passed away at Embley and was buried beside her husband in East Willows Churchyard. Her tomb bears the inscription:—
Devoted to the Memory of our Mother,
FRANCES NIGHTINGALE,
Wife of William Edward Nightingale, Esq.
Died February 1st, 1880.
“God is Love.”—1 John iv. 16.