The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-20
Gone Home.

Inc nttle D0y whose ueatn is mere meullOueu
was the son of one of our brethren in Texas,
and the grand son of two other ministers of the
gospel-namely, the Rev. Stephen +. Cooke,
who removed from Virginia to Texas about the
year 1885, and after years of faithful labor en-
tered into rest; also a grandson of the Rev.
Isaac Cochran, one of the Oldest of our brethren
in Virginia. We comply with the request to
publish the article below, copied from the Hunts
vile Texas Times.
1t pleased ny Heavenly Father, on
the soth day 4 usy, 1867, tOremove
my darling little son, Frederick Cooke,
from my family circle, to his own blessed
family on high. He was two years, six
months and four days old when he died
1t has been said that 'three things ap-
pear to be 'uninjured by the fall,-the
song of birds-the beauty of flowers
and the smile of infancy as if God
would leave us something to remind us
of the Paradise we have lost and to point
us to that which we may regain. Beau
tiful and lovely is the little child, however
we may picture it to ourselves; beautiful
in the cradle-beautiful upon the parents
knee-beautiful at play with its toys
beautiful as lamb in the Saviour's arms
beautiful at the baptismal font-beau-
tiful beneath the coffin lid, yes, beautiful
even there, in the lovelineSs of DEATH
with hands folded peacefully-with brow
like moulded wax,-with eyes closed in
sleep, "perchance to Dream" with lips
so gracefully composed as if to say 81
murmur not" and with it's entire face
radiant with smile which is the imprint
of its dying vision.
The Saviour of the world had special
regard to this part of our race. The in
fants of Bethlehem were the first chris
tan martyrs. They died for Jesus sake,
afterwards he died for them; their blood
was the first oblation to the newborn Sa-
viour. Of such is the kingdom of heaven,
said the kind shepherd when he took them
in his arms and blessed them. Indeed,
they are the JOY of earth, and heaven
does not seem complete without them
John said he "saw round about the throne,
great and small" Hence, as dearly as
we love our little ones, they are taken
from us. And are not the sweetest taken?
Where is the family that is not divided?
a part on earth and part in heaven;
where is the parent that does not visit
with fearful eye some sacred little mound?
Where is the parent in some lonely hour,
which memory loves, does not look up to
heaven, with folded hands. and exclaim,
can l bring him back again? 1 shall 60
to him, but he shall not return to me.
There is no flock, however watched and tended
But one dead lamb is there,
There is no Preside however defended
But hath one vacant chair.
As on all trees, there are more bios
SONS in spring-time than there are ripe
fruits in autumn; so there are more in
fants than adults, that drop away from
the circles of earthly love Like those
flowers which grow on frail and tender
vines, bloom but an hour in the morning,
and then fold their beauties to the heart
from the gaze of earth forever, so our
little ones pass quickly and beautifully
away. And OH transporting thought
they are all in Heaven See them re-
joice and hear them sing Behold how
the white robed infant multitude extends