Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-11-18
For the Delaware Gazette. I
HOME PAPERS.
Bessie.

1t was a beautiful day; a day of
cIoudIess skies, of soft, warm sun
shine, and baImy fragrant winds
breathing low, sweet music among the
trees. Gay autumn flowers, beside
the garden walks, nodded lovingly to
each other, while the leaves, bright
with scarlet, and amber, and gold, and
brown, came floating softly, and si-
lently down from their pleasant sum-
mer homes, all unconscious of the sad
fate that awaited them. A few stray
robins still chirped up among the bril-
hantly mantled boughs, as if they
were reluctant to depart from scenes
so fraught with delight to their lith-
some little hearts and the jaybird fill
ed the air, with his shrill, yet cheerful
notes.
The streets were filed with CAV rob
ed passers-by, while the happy voices
of little children rang out upon the
golden air, and Peace and Happiness
seemed to sit with folded suOw-white
pinions. in every heart, and home.
Alas! not everywhere, for in one
home, a home whose walls were wont
to be jubilant with the silvery laugh
ter, and the innocent prattle of happy
hearted childhood, were hearts that
found no beauty, or gladness in that
fair and lovely day; well knowing
that it's fading light, would fall upon a
neW-made grave, wherein was hidden
and tender loving affection. The
pleasant rooms were darkened, and
the merriment of the little sisters and
brother, was hushed into a solemn
stiffness while dusky folds of Grape
waved mournfully from the cIose-shut
door.
Dear lftt1o I5css4ess-t 5fsgfIfng IIUtIe
sister +; the innocent, loving, and be-
loved little child, and the gentle shy.
yet winsome and happy-hearted play
= - h
closed her bright eyes on all the beau
| tiful, yet perishing things of life, and
gone into the Silent Land.
Not all mothers love, or fathers
tender care, nor the fond plead'ngs of
loving sisters and an afectionate
little brother, could keep her; and
with sweet eonfding trust of an innO-
cent, sinless life, she went down fear
! lessly into the dark river, and passed
over to the Other Side.
And now. loving hands had robed
her for her last resting place, and sor-
rowing friends had gathered around to
perform their last sad duties to the
little child they had loved so WE'LL
| Brightly the warm sunshine stole
/ in at the window tinging with gold the
soft brown from her hair, and Hnger-
| ing long and lovingly upon her pale
and wasted cheeks, as if it would
fain WOO back the red bloom of health,
to its once fair home once more. Sweet
| fragrant winds crept in with gentle
whisperings of all the glad, and beau
tiful life without while the lovely
| scented blossoms, wreathing the satin
pillow, and Nesting within the little
wasted fingers seemed as if they were
| saying,
| Leave US not leave US not;
| Linger awhile.
Warmly the Sunbeams yet
Lendeth their smile;
| Softly the south-winds blow,
Blue is the sky;
/ Earth is so beautiful
| While playmates and school-mates in
! the Sabbath School, with the beloved
! teacher, gathered around the coffin
with the wish in their hearts that Bes-
sic might wake up, and join with them
| in their many plays, and IN the duties
! of the Sabbath-SchOOl once MORE
Parents and trends with breaking
hearts and fearful eyes, bent above
her narrow bed, questioning within
themselves the reason of this sore af
Fiction, and longing for the bright
glance of her eyes and the warm pres
sure of her loving lips again.
But, all alike were unheeded anC
with a sweet, satisfied smile upon hel
still, white face, as if the glOries of the
"Better Land" +" SO recently unveiled tt
her eyes, were enough, yea, more thar
enough to her redeemed and glordieC
| spirit, she lay sleeping the sleep IRON
which she viii never awaken until the
graves shall give up their dead.
Soothingly the voice of the good pas
tor, who had known and loved hel
from her babyhood, fell upon the ear
as he read appropriate passages IRON
the Book Of Comfort, and invoked
Heavens tender compassion upon th'
hearts of those so sorely wounded, anC
tried. Sweetly the voices of the sing
ers, as they softly and plaintiVely
chanted,
"sister, thou vast mild and:lovely,"
went floating through the silen
rooms, leading our thoughts upward
where we shall one day greet he
ttwhere no farewell tear is she'd" Then
the last farewell look was given, aPC
the lid of the casket fastened securel.
down, and little Bessie went out iron
her once loved home, to her last, loni
resting place in the quiet city on yon
der hill.
/ o, how sadly will Bessie be misse'
in the home made bright by her pres
ence so long! And oh. how often vii
the hearts of the stricken parents, an
those of the dear old grandmothers
, one in a far more distant land, and on
, who has so often guided the falterin
> steps of the little one, and breathed IN
to her ear the "sw 3et story OF DID,
z yearn to behold tEe bright race OF incl l.S
= darling; and the little sisters an
brother listen and wait for the musl
, of her coming feet but to yearn, an
. listen, and wait in vain.
5 But, within the fold of the Goo
. Shepherd, their lamb wanders throug
- green pastures, and by the still waters
: feeding on fair and fragrant lilies, fol
ever safe from all the Ills that so bt
] set this life. And, when the sun
, mons comes for father and mothel
. and sisters and brother and classmate
4 and friends to "come up higher" sh
s will be among the first to lead ther
1 within the pearly gates, and welcom
s them into purer joys than those thi
> earh affords and those which never ca
= fade away.
When lifeis many cares,
g And its sorrows have passed,
And ye go to abide
With the angels at last,
y Among the rich joys
, Which in heaven yen SNARE
II WIN be dear little Bessie,
Who waits for you there
q Delaware, 1870.
3, TU.AT-sro of 81 V.oY1i