101 Ways, Part 35: Her Longing Spirit Sprung . . .

For a brief intro to the "101 Ways to Say 'Died'" series, click here.

Ok, this one is a little long. I felt like I needed to diagram this sentence in order to find the verb for the title. Despite the syntax, I think it is more sincere than the Anna Palmer epitaph:

Sacred

to the Memory of

Mrs. MERCY TAPPAN

the mournfull but resign'd relict of 

Mr. RICHARD TAPPAN who

sleeps in dust beside her

to Religion she was an ornament to

the neglect of it a Reproof.

After a long confinement by a languishing

disease which yet could never draw her to

a discontented moan nor quench the ardor

of incessant prayer,

Her SAVIOUR whisper'd rise and come away

and at the welcome sound her longing spirit

sprung with joyfull assurance from the eager

arms of lov'd and loving friends to the 

far more lov'd and loving arms of her LORD

On the 17th of May 1790

AEt 80.

Mercy Tappan, Newburyport, MA, 1790