Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-08-15

of his bereaved parents, and console them
in their distress. What else can we be-
lieve, but that his faith was on the Rocks
of ges founded. Gibbon, the celebrated
historian of the Rise and Fall of the Ro-
man Empire, imbued his mind early with
the principles of infdeliiy. He threw a.
side the obligations of religion, and the
idea of future world. His mind was
respondent when he approached the con-
fines of the tomb. He left this world in
gloomy hopelessness, without those hopes
and consultations, which cheer the chris
han in the prospects of immortality. On
his death-bed he uttered : "All is now
lost, finally and irrecoverably lost, (which
shows plainly that he was without hope,
without faith and without Christ. But
Hamme had no reason TO utter such Ian
guage. He was fully convinced al his
immortal destiny, and had his mind area-
dy deeply impressed with the realities Of
a future world. He could with a clear
conscience give his soul to God.
He weaned himself from earthly joys
His hopes dispelled his grief"
Although he was hurried away sudden
ly and unexpectedly, without baving any
time, at the moment of death, to make
his peace, calling and election sure with
God, yet firmly believe that he had no
need of preparatory time, but that he was
constantly ready to meet his God. His
death was the death Of a righteous.
'Hs soul disdained on earth to dwell
lie only sojourned here"
He had Christ as his leader through
the dark valley and the shadow of death.
Nothing could deter him or make him
afraid, because Christ bade him come
"Through deaths dark shades TO realms
of light" His days of youth, crowned
with the pleasures and delights which lis
parents were able TO bestow upon him,
had already passed. His aim was direc.
ted TO that point where the future was in
Wiling him so friendly and so charmingly,
and where the Paradise Of life was gilt
lering with its golden fruits. But alas
Deaf and dumb his mortal body, shut up
in narrow house, lies now amidst the
slumberers in the grave. He has follow
ed his pious grandparents,
"Who have gone before to that inheritance di-
On to their everlasting home,-
That country whence there's nc return"
The sun shines upon the mount Of bis
grave, but he feels lis delightful rays no
more. The gentle west-wind breathes
upon the flowers which adorn his grave,
but no more can he inhale the fresh bree-
zes of the evening. Our deceased friend
sleeps peaceful in the dark and dismal
grave, but his memory is not yet forgot
ten, since his
"Good actions crown themselves with lasting
days"
o what blessing il is 10 have pious
parents Who, when we are yet young
and inexperienced, point out to us the
wsys of salvation, and lead us, by means
of their fervent prayers, to an acqualn-
tance with our Redeemer. J. Hdmme
Keplinger, who now inhabts eternity,
can look back, with pleasing thought,
upon the past, and say in reference to his
parents
"They led me first to God
Their words and prayers were my spirit dew" >"
have no doubt but that his parents
greatly bewaiI the calamity which Prov-
dence has cast upon them, but they need
not dspair since they have the assurance
that their son has gone TO try the realities
of better world, and that they shall
meet him again around the throne of God.
Then they will behold him in his full
glory, being clad with the robes of right
eousness, and with the crown Of eternal
life upon his head. For
"What a world were this,
How uncomfortable its weight, if they
Whom death has sundered did not meet again"
There is no reason 10 believe that he,
whose spiritual influence is realized a
mong men, should die an eternal death
No, he shall live in glory. 1t was say
ing among the ancient heathens, "Whom
the gods love die young A great deal
OF truth is contained in this, and very ap-
prorriate 10 apply or the present occa-
sion.
]. Hamme Keplinger was young God
loved him and. took him away in order TO
transform him into an angel and make
him a participant of celestial enjoymenis.
His grand parents who are dead and those
that are still in the land of the living, as
has come to my knowledge, we're and are
very Jealous christians, and so are also
his parents. What doubt then need we
entertain It is plain that theirs is the
kingdom of heaven, that they all shall be
saved, and embrace him again. whom they
so dearly loved. For
"The soul once saved shall never cease from