Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-01-14
Cooks Last Letter TO his Wife, 1
CmARLEsTowNG GAn., Dee. !6, 1899. /
NJr ns.r Wife And Child

CmARLEsrowN Jan, Dec, !6, 1880.
My Dear Wife Apd Child:
For the last timeN take my pen to ad-
dress you-lor the Nsl time TO speak 70
you through the tongue OF the absent.
am about TO leave yOh and this world for
ever. But do not giVe way 10 your grief.
Look with eyes Of hope beyond The vale
of lie, and see the da4nlng OF that bEIgh-
Ter morrow that shall Anow no clouds or
shadows in its sunrE sky-that shall
know no sunset. TO &lat eternal dag |
trust, beloved, am gohg now. For me
there waits no far-oH OF uncertain future.
am only going from ny camp on earth
TO d home in heaven; lr$m the dark clouds
of sin and grief, 10 the clear blue skies,
the flowing fountains and the eternal Joys
of that better and brigh fr land, whose on
ly entrance is through the vale of death
whose only gateway is be tomb.
Oh, YES ! think that am only going
home; going 10 meet my Saviour aud my
God; going TO meet mE comrades. aud
N ali and watch for you Each hour that
passes. every loling bdll, proclalms this
world is not our homeJ We are but pill
grims here. janrneyidg 10 our Father S
house. Some have :. bng and weary road
to wander; shado~ed Ger %Jth Tears and
doubts, they often tire land faint up0a life S
roadside, yet still all @earIed, they mus
move along. Some d bake moro rapid
journey, and complete their pilgrimage IN
the bright morn of fife; they know no
WEAKNESS upon thei3 journey, no Ills OF
cares of toil-worn aae. and my com
rades are among that humber. Our plI-
grImage is nearly end3 d3d we can almost
see our homes. A ie b more hours and
we shall be there.
True, it is hard for he TO leave my low
ing partner and my lid lie one, lingering on
the rugged road on which li(e's storms
are bursting. But CHI Der up, my beloved
ones; those storms will soon be over;
through their last ngerlng shadows YOU
will see the promisep rainbow. 1t will
whisper Of a happy land where all storms
are over. viii you pot strive to meet me
in that cline of unenping sunshine Oh
yes, know you wi p that you will also
try TO lead our child Ialong that path ol
glory; that you will claim for him an en-
trance 10 that celestial CITY whose maker
and builder is God. Teach him the way
Of truth and virtue. Tell bin for what
and how his father left him, ere lis lips
could lisp my name Pray for him Re-
member that there Il no golden gateway
10 The realms of pleasure here, but there
is one for the redee he'd in the lanG that
lies starward. There hope we may
meet, whenever you have completed
your other pilgrimage on The ROAD of life.
Years will pass on and your journey will
soon be ended. Live so that when from
the verge Of life you look back you may
feel no vain regrets! no bitter, anguish for
msPent years. L9ok 10 God in all your
troubles; cast yours Flf on Him when your
heart is dark with Il be night of sorrow and
heavy with the wei kht of woe. lie will
shed over YOU the bright sunshine Of his
love, and take away the burden from your
heart.
=
And now farewell May that all wise
and eternal God, WHIP governs all things,
be with you TO glide and protect you
through life, and BRING US together in eler-
nal 10y beyond the gAve. Farewell, fond
partner of my heart abd soul. Farewell,
dear babe OF our love! A last, long fare
well, till we meet in Heaven. | remain,
in life and death, you'd devo'eG husband
john T.. Cook.