Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-06

The mournfnl cypress rises around,
Tapering from the burial ground
Think mother. while sweet tears are shed,
How blessed are the early dead.
1t d~evolves upon me to record the obituary
of Sister Hays, who died on the 10Th July,
of Congestive Fever, after an illness of ten
days. Sister Hays, whose maiden name was
Martha Eleanor, was born in Gates County,
n. c., in 1903. She embraced religion at a
camp-meeting held in the same county in
1897 and was united in marriage to Bro.
Wright Hays in 1881 soon after which, she
removed with her husband to Enfield, in
Halifax County, from whence she has been
transferred to Heaven. Soon after her con-
version. she connected herself with the NJ.
E. Church, of which she remained a de-
cided and exemplary member until her death.
She was punctual and cheerful in attending
Divine worship-both class-meetings and the
public ministrations of the Gospel; and when
engaged in the solemn services of the sane
tuary, her exercises were always devotional,
and she was frequently made to rejoice ex-
ceedingly in the manifestations of the Di-
vine presence. Not only in the public con-
gregation did she give evidences Of Christian
character and enjoyment, but in the retire
ment of domestic life and in the social circle
she exhibited the mind that was in Christ
and illustrated the beauty of holiness both
by precept and example. As a wife, a mo-
Their, and a %neighbor, she fulfilled, faithfully
and we'll, the duties of those several rela-
tons. To her husband she was a help-mate
indeed, both for this life and the life to come.
Her children were rich in the heritage of her
love and example, and the needy shared in
the sympathies of her heart and the boun-
ties Of her store. She enjoyed peculiar plea
sure in giving entertainment to ministers of
the GOSPEL, and many of our brethren will
not soon forgether cordial, though unosten-
tatious kindness.
We have never known an instance in
which the power of religion to destroy the
sting of death and the gloom of the grave,
was more signally displayed, than il the
closing scene of Sister Hays. She knew
that the time of her departure was at
hand" and though suffering much bodily
pain, she looked upon death with more than
the calmness ana confidence of a eonquefor.
To her, death had no sting, and the grave
no terror mo, none. / have not space to
record her words of exhortation and triumph
and ecstacy, but they will long live in the
memory of all who heard them. Victory,
oft proclaimed, was her watchword at the
gate of death and Glory, thrice repeated,
was her last utteranee on earth, with which
she passed away to the %fruition of Heaven.
According to her request, on the occasion of
her funeral, her remains were taken to the
church and placed on the seat which she
was accustomed to occupy, while she glori-
fed spirit, once the companion of those re-
mains, was a tenant of "the house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens"
T. G. LOWE.
In F~ranklinton, on the 31st ult., Jos. J
PEBBLES, of Pitt County, in the 18th year OIL
3 his age. The Students of the. Franklintor
5 Institute, to which he was attached, passed
l the following resolutions:
4 Resolued, That in the death of our beloved
s~choolmate, Jos. ]. PEBBLES, we have beer
deprived of one of the most amiable ant
e generous of associates, one whose characte
as a gentleman, a student and a christian
o Won our love and admiration.
S Resolced, That we deeply condole with hi
:. afflicted relatives in this sad dispensation O
Providence, and most afGectionately extend t
e them our sympathies.
ResoEUed. That we will wear a badge {
mourning for thirty days, in token of GU
|, esteem and love for his memory.
ResolUed, That a copy of these Resolution
be transmitted to the surviving members
the family.