Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-05-23
OBITUARY.

tressing Illness Of about fortnights duration,
departed this life, RoBGRT 6. FaAvEL, young
est son of James G. and Mary Fravel, having
just turned his nineteenth year. but young,
he was best known md best loved, where Sest
known, ia the home circle. He was a dutiful
and an obsdient son; : loving, devoted and af~
feotionate hrother-aiwaysr ready 1ith acts aad
offices of kindness and affection, and ever oen
tributing to the comfort aad happiness Of these
with whom he was connected by the tenderest
ties Of cansanguinity. IL this circle, his sud
den demise his crested d vacuum which can
rot be filed. The rose and expectancy Of his
family Is blasted. 10 Longer one Of loved
circle; his seat vacaat at the family board !;
the familiar sounds OF his football hushcd ;
the soft and musical tones Of his voice forever
silent, and the stream Of sympathy and affec-
ton, which flowed fsosn his warm heart, beam
ing in his eyes, illumining h;s whole coanten-
ance. aud speaking on MS tongue, dried up.
RoBEaT FEAvGL. though young, had By his
genial nature. social qualitiss, and amiabls
disposition. won aad retained many friends,
whs now bear testimony to his yalae as com
raae and conpanion--ths moral worth and ex-
cellence Of the character, which he developed.
Tie business men OF the community who met
With him in the CLERKS Offioe, where he gas
engaged for months prior 10 his untimely DEATH
WILL luS Alu aAsiDiS, LHtAiJ anu aC-
conmodating pals faced yogag man. He Wa
too young 20 take part in the stirring sTents
OF :hs war. Nevertheless when but aixtasn
years Of age, catching the enthusiasm which
prevailed he seriously contemplated entering
the lists and engaging IN tho sanguinary con
fiiot. His determination was communicate ed
TO an older brother III service, and he 0Qly de-
sisted FROM carrying he resolnt on formed in
to practice by that brother reminding him of
his delicate physical constitution !; the trying
oTdes.l to which it would be subjected in the
hArdshipa and exposure incident to soldiers
lie, and telling aim il he did enter The service
he himself, you'd, If prActicable, retire from it.
TITS. however, upon the christian character of
this young man, that ws delight to dwell, and
which We would deli enats and bring out in
bold RELIEF, were We adequate to the task.
lie was christian, and as sach, the credit duo
to a pious aad devoted mother, as al humble
instrument il the hands Of Goa, in HE forma-
ton and Development Of the character he ex-
hibited We believe tho early religious train
ing and instruction which 40 received, made
impressions on his plastic mind and heart,
whicA were never offa;el. 1t was early in the
Spring of 1866, under the powerful and elo-
euent exposition of divine truth by Rev. Dr.
.Ios. Stiles, D. D., that his conviction OF sin
was deepened, and that ne Was led to seek par
don in the great congregation, through re-
pentancc and faith in Christ. Having realized
that hope was implanted by an unseen hand
in his heart and that JOY in4escribable filled
his soul, he made an open profession of love
and attachment to God, and shortly thereafter
connected himself with the Presbyterian
Church. This profession was not an empty
one, and the hope and joy which he experien-
ced were not ephemoral and deceptive. There
is IRE fragabl evidence to the contrary, in The
life which he liyed--in the fruit which he
bore, and in the death which he died. OF a
retiring aud unobtrusiye disposition, few know
the intense interest he felt in the salvation of
his own and the souls Of others few have
correct idea how often he sought communion
with his Maker in the private chamber, and
fewer still are aware with what earnestness
and unquenchable thirst for knowledge, ne
lent the whole energies of good mind to the
study of the oracles Of divine truth. From the
time of his conversion to his death-sickness,
the Bible was his text book, as well as the man
of his counsel, and it was studied in connection
with standard commentary. To but one so
far as we are informed, did he communicate
the fact that he felt an abiding conviction rest
ing on his mind, that he was called of God to
preach Christ and him crucihed, to his fellow
man. During the sickness which terminated
III his Qeatn, tnOuSu MS DOuY was faCkcu with
pain, and tortured with fever o such an extent,
as at times to unsettle and dethrone reason, he
gave he clearest and most indubitable evidence
that he had set his house in order and that all
was well with him in respect to the unknown
world by the fortitude aud perfect resigna-
ton with which he bore excruciating pain, and
by the expressions which he uttered, one of
which is repeated, -s.that he could not find it
in his heart to murmur or complain, because
of the furnace of affection through which he
was passing, when he remembered the agoniz-
ing suffering which his precious Savior bore for
him and his race" RoBERT FRAvELhas gone,
but though dead, he still iveth and speaketh
A voice comes to his bereaved and disconsolate
parents, brothers. and sisters, from his life,
from his death, and from that home whittier he
has gone,--tgraive not for me; yourloss is my
eternal gain" A voice comes to those once uai-
ted with him in the mystical body of Christ,
and particularly to the lambs of the fold,
ssFollow me as / followed Christ live the life
of the righteous, that your last end may be
like his - and voice comes from the dark
charncl home of the tomb, sepuichral in its
tones, ringing in the ears of his ungodly com
rades and companions, Remember now thy
Creator in the days Of thy youth, while the
evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh,
when thou shalt say have no pleasure
in them = s.for there is no work. nor knowl-
edge nor WISDOM nor device in he grave
whittier thou goest;' ''as the tree falleth so
n hath, AMTCTTg