The Commissioners replanning New York desired to pay Paine’s memory a compliment and on opening up the street parallel with Grove, they called it Reason Street, for the “Age of Reason.”  This was objected to by many bigots (who had never read the book) and some tactful diplomat suggested giving it the French twist—­Raison Street.  Already they had the notion that French could cover a multitude of sins.  Even this was too closely suggestive of Tom Paine, “the infidel,” so it was shamelessly corrupted to Raisin!  Consider the street named originally in honour of the author of the “Age of Reason,” eventually called for a dried grape!

This too passed, and if you go down there now you will find it called Barrow Street.

On the 8th of June, 1809, Thomas Paine died.

The New York Advertiser said: 

“With heart-felt sorrow and poignant regret, we are compelled to announce to the world that Thomas Paine is no more.  This distinguished philanthropist, whose life was devoted to the cause of humanity, departed this life yesterday morning; and, if any man’s memory deserves a place in the breast of a freeman, it is that of the deceased, for,

    "’Take him for all in all,
    We ne’er shall look upon his like again.’"

The funeral party consisted of Hicks, Mme. de Bonneville and two negroes, who loyally walked twenty-two miles to New Rochelle to see the last of the man who had always defended and pleaded for the rights of their pitifully misunderstood and ill-treated race.

To the end he was active for public service.  His actual last act was to pen a letter to the Federal faction, conveying a warning as to the then unsettled situation in American and French commerce.  Just before he had made his will.

It is in itself a composition worth copying and preserving.  Paine could not even execute a legal document without putting into it something of the beauty of spirit and distinction of phrase for which he was remarkable.  He had not much to leave, since he had given all to his country and his country had forgotten him in making up the balance; but what he had went to Mme. de Bonneville, for her children, that she,—­let me quote his own words, “... might bring them well up, give them good and useful learning and instruct them in their duty to God and the practice of morality.”

It continues thus: 

“I herewith take my final leave of them and the world.  I have lived an honest and useful life to mankind; my time has been spent in doing good and I die in perfect composure and resignation to the will of my Creator God.”

Such was the last will and testament of “Tom Paine, Infidel.”

CHAPTER VI

Pages of Romance