The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-01-05

OBITUARY..


BETH GILBERT, was born 10 tho city VI New
York. Dec. 23d, 1908. and died at Florence, s.
c., Dec. 2lsl, 1869, and her mortal remains wero
Inferred in .he Cemetery Of Sumter, s. c., on her
sixty sixth birthday, Ivy the side Of John c. l..
Gilbert, hor youngest son, victim Of tho war.
MRs. GILBERT received her early educational
training pnrtiy Ia the city Of Now York, aud
partly in tho town Of Camden, S. C. She was
married, III tho yoar 1892, to Mr.. Amos Gilbert.
of Now Havon, Connecticut. She connected
horself With the Presbyterian Church IN early
girlhood and continued " nomber Of it to tho
tiino Of her death. Sho wns fur many years q
member Of tho Church ut Waltcrburo'. s. o., un-
der tho pastoral caro- Of tho Rev. Edward Pal
NOR. for whom she entertained tho greatest ut
fectiou as pastor and friend. She closed her
earthly careor in conncxiun with tho presbytc.
rian Church, Sumter, S. @. She leaves MS chief
mourncrs, two sons and threo daughters, with
numerous friends sympnthizing with shom In
their great grief
dren, whio yet tho oldest was only twelve yours
Of age. How she mut This great responsibility. in
the midst of manifold struggles, tho energy and
usefulness Of thcso pnce helpless ones, sufficient
ly testify. The earliest rccolcctions Of her chill
dren, are associated most tendcrly with tho pray
crs aud religious instructions and wise counscls
Of their venorated and lamcntod molhor.
She was of fceulo frame and health. but her
great energy of character and her abiding faith
in the God Of tho widow, powerfully sustained hcr
in the midst of ailictions and trials. which
would lmve overwhelmed and Crushed many,
not SO constituted, not SO trustful in IN oscrru-
III & Providence.
But her cnorgy had wider reach for its cx-
crcisc, than tho famiy circle. She loved tho
cnusc aud kingdom Of tho blessed Redoomer.
Zion's welfare "Sho did what sho cou d" in
the church Of God She devised aud executed
liberal things. Sho was never idle. difficulties
in the path Of duty never deferred hcr, but only
oxeitod hor to moro determined effort. Sho was
intensely patriotic. She clung to hor Integrity,
in tho midst Of tho wreck md ruin which sur
rounded her, nnd lived to 500 returning prospcri
ty, rising from tho ashes Of dcsoatcd homes, and
tho utter prostitution Of every thing connected
with her adopted aud beloved South, the land
Ono oil Tho Inst Iubors Of those active und never.
tiring fingers, now palsicd in death. was u beau.
tiful work Of art, designed US o contribution to
tho Fair recently held in Sumter, to raiso funds
to erect q monument in metuory Of tho Ioroic
young men Of tho District, who died in the war.
She was q vory norcas In labors Of love and
of mercy. She exhibited in n remarkable mum
nrr, what an amount of good determined pur-
pu>o with corresponding effort cnn effect, with.
out tho mid of largo pccuniary means.
But tho time had now come when sho must act
in higher. holicr and happier sphere. The work
of her Master was dono upon earth. Sho had
lived to a purpuso. Sho had raised her family to
munhood and wumanhood. Shc had illustrated
Christian character under bereavement, and
adorned tho doctrine Of God her Saviour In tho
activities OF lfo. Her death was u beautiful and
touching commentary upon lifc spent in the
service Of God. Though this Inst ene,ny ca,no
suddenly, he did not como unexpectedly. She
MAS emo of tLosc wiso ones, who always havo
their lamps burning aud their loins girdGd. She
was really, though tho cry Of "bclold tho brido-
groom cumcth, go 80 out to meet hin,,' should
conc 'nt even, o. ut midnight ut cook growing,
or in tho morning" She feared not to traverse
''the valley Of the shadow Of DEATH" for she knew
who had promised to bo with her. There wcro
tory preparations for the mighty future. All was
caim and scrcno. She was pcnscd with ovcry
thing. just as the sun began to giid tho Enst,
she desired to riso from her bed, for It was her
usual hour of rising Sho was tuld that she wns
too weak for such m effort. But sho insisted
md was seated inn chair. Having givcn some
directions Us to making her position comfortable,
slio yielded up her spirit, without q struggle or
groan. 1t nus surprise to all that sho had
survived SO lung, and it was equally surprise
that sho bronthc her Inst so calmly, so suddenly.
radiant glow wns left upon hor face, such as
WINS not seen tllero in lifo. Wns it not Tho faint
imugo of Immortality which nnimates TINT body,
which fell 81 swtc,iy asleep in Jesus? Was II not
II glorious reflection Of tho happy depnrting spir.
ful Aurora, illuminating the surrounding dark
uess. ''Sho is not dead, but sccpcth."
Death camo und knocked, knockcd quick upon
that door,
Twas opened straight, hut angels were before
There Jesus stood. and Death rctrcnted back;
lie had no wurk-his power was tn'cn away
There 10 need that he should longer stay
Both Suul AMI dust, TO Jesus now belouged--
lie bought them bott, aud would not hnro thom
wr0nged,
Tho happy soul, the angels bore nluft,
The b"dy loft. to sleep in slumbcrs soft.
High O'cr thnt dust tho SnyiOur's watctful cye
1.onks fondly down from loftcs,.arch of sky,
twill not be Ion. huforc thnt awful dny,
Whom lIouren aud Earth, new glories shall dis
play
Tho coming judge, with nll his angels strong,
This precious dust, will rise and jun the tlrung,
And brighter shine than splendid morning star
Within that house which filth now sccs nfar.
AN OLD FRIEND
EDaAo a. TN -l-