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conscious knowledge of this world and of what you
are doing； I shall not be far away from you； and in
times of need I will help you all I can。 Who knows？
Perhaps I may be able to do more for the Cause
after I am gone than while I am here。''
Nine years have passed since then； and in each
day of them all it seems to me； in looking back； I
have had some occasion to recall her words。 When
they were uttered I did not fully comprehend all
they meant； or the clearness of the vision that had
suggested them。 It seemed to me that no position
I could hold would be of sufficient importance to
attract jealousy or personal attacks。 The years have
brought more wisdom； I have learned that any one
who assumes leadership； or who； like myself； has
had leadership forced upon her； must expect to bear
many things of which the world knows nothing。
But with this knowledge； too； has come the memory
of ‘‘Aunt Susan's'' last promise； and again and yet
again in hours of discouragement and despair I have
been helped by the blessed conviction that she was
keeping it。
During the last forty…eight hours of her life she
was unwilling that I should leave her side。 So day
and night I knelt by her bed； holding her hand and
watching the flame of her wonderful spirit grow dim。
At times； even then； it blazed up with startling sud…
denness。 On the last afternoon of her life； when she
had lain quiet for hours； she suddenly began to utter
the names of the women who had worked with her；
as if in a final roll…call。 Many of them had preceded
her into the next world； others were still splendidly
active in the work she was laying down。 But young
or old； living or dead； they all seemed to file past
her dying eyes that day in an endless； shadowy re…
view； and as they went by she spoke to each of them。
Not all the names she mentioned were known in
suffrage ranks； some of these women lived only in
the heart of Susan B。 Anthony； and now； for the
last time； she was thanking them for what they had
done。 Here was one who； at a moment of special
need； had given her small savings； here was another
who had won valuable recruits to the Cause； this
one had written a strong editorial； that one had
made a stirring speech。 In these final hours it
seemed that not a single sacrifice or service； however
small； had been forgotten by the dying leader。 Last
of all； she spoke to the women who had been on her
board and had stood by her loyally so longRachel
Foster Avery； Alice Stone Blackwell； Carrie Chap…
man Catt； Mrs。 Upton； Laura Clay； and others。
Then； after lying in silence for a long time with her
cheek on my hand； she murmured： ‘‘They are still
passing before meface after face； hundreds and
hundreds of them； representing all the efforts of
fifty years。 I know how hard they have worked
I know the sacrifices they have made。 But it has
all been worth while！''
Just before she lapsed into unconsciousness she
seemed restless and anxious to say something； search…
ing my face with her dimming eyes。
‘‘Do you want me to repeat my promise？'' I
asked； for she had already made me do so several
times。 She made a sign of assent； and I gave her
the assurance she desired。 As I did so she raised
my hand to her lips and kissed ither last conscious
action。 For more than thirty hours after that I
knelt by her side； but though she clung to my hand
until her own hand grew cold； she did not speak
again。
She had told me over and over how much our long
friendship and association had meant to her； and the
comfort I had given her。 But whatever I may have
been to her； it was as nothing compared with what
she was to me。 Kneeling close to her as she passed
away； I knew that I would have given her a dozen
lives had I had them； and endured a thousand times
more hardship than we had borne together； for the
inspiration of her companionship and the joy of her
affection。 They were the greatest blessings I have
had in all my life； and I cherish as my dearest treas…
ure the volume of her History of Woman Suffrage
on the fly…leaf of which she had written this in…
scription：
REVEREND ANNA HOWARD SHAW：
This huge volume IV I present to you with the love that
a mother beareth； and I hope you will find in it the facts about
women； for you will find them nowhere else。 Your part will
be to see that the four volumes are duly placed in the libraries
of the country； where every student of history may have access
to them。
With unbounded love and faith；
SUSAN B。 ANTHONY。
That final line is still my greatest comfort。 When
I am misrepresented or misunderstood； when I am
accused of personal ambition or of working for per…
sonal ends； I turn to it and to similar lines penned
by the same hand； and tell myself that I should not
allow anything to interfere with the serenity of my
spirit or to disturb me in my work。 At the end of
eighteen years of the most intimate companionship；
the leader of our Cause； the greatest woman I have
ever known； still felt for me ‘‘unbounded love and
faith。'' Having had that； I have had enough。
For two days after ‘‘Aunt Susan's'' death she lay
in her own home； as if in restful slumber； her face
wearing its most exquisite look of peaceful serenity；
and here her special friends； the poor and the unfor…
tunate of the city； came by hundreds to pay their
last respects。 On the third day there was a public
funeral； held in the Congregational church； and；
though a wild blizzard was raging； every one in
Rochester seemed included in the great throng of
mourners who came to her bier in reverence and
left it in tears。 The church services were conducted
by the pastor； the Rev。 C。 C。 Albertson； a lifelong
friend of Miss Anthony's； assisted by the Rev。 Will…
iam C。 Gannett。 James G。 Potter； the Mayor of
the city； and Dr。 Rush Rhees； president of Rochester
University； occupied prominent places among the
distinguished mourners； and Mrs。 Jerome Jeffries；
the head of a colored school； spoke in behalf of the
negro race and its recognition of Miss Anthony's
services。 College clubs； medical societies； and re…
form groups were represented by delegates sent from
different states； and Miss Anna Gordon had come
on from Illinois to represent the Woman's National
Christian Temperance Union。 Mrs。 Catt delivered a
eulogy in which she expressed the love and recognition
of the organized suffrage women of the world for Miss
Anthony； as the one to whom they had all looked
as their leader。 William Lloyd Garrison spoke of
Miss Anthony's work with his father and other anti…
slavery leaders； and Mrs。 Jean Brooks Greenleaf
spoke in behalf of the New York State Suffrage
Association。 Then； as ‘‘Aunt Susan'' had requested；
I made the closing address。 She had asked me to
do this and to pronounce the benediction； as well as
to