Middletown transcript., 1870-12-03
For the Aidd,stowa Transcript.
I'M RTTrMnRUANV.

Annie j. Blackiston died at her mothers resi-
dence in Middletown, August l4th, 1879.
There is ever melancholy pleasure to
those who have lost friends whom they
deeply and sincerely loved in reviewing
the past, and calling to mind the virtues
of the deceased.
Though we have buried our dead out of
our sight and all recollection has apparent
ly passed away from the memory of many
who were her companions and friends in
life. there are some hearts whose aching
void is not filled, and whose wounds are
not healed, and oflImcS does some trivi..
gincident, bringing-to remembrance things
she loved, cause the tears to gush from
our eyes. Even at this remote day it
seems at times almost impossible to realize
that our bright, lively Annie is no more,
that she who was ever, IN her innocent
gayety and mirth, " the life and soul of
the social circle in which she moved, and
who was so kind hearted, tender and af-
fectionate that she was a favorite with all
who knew her, is gone from us forever !;
and we often find ourselves waiting as if
we expected her entrance to complete the
family circle. But it cannot be. 1t is now
more than three months since we laid her
in the grave And though memory clings
to her she is gone forever, in this world
at least, hidden away from our eyes =
and we shall never hear her merry voice
or see her happy face again. Yet why
should we mourn? When we, recall the
sad circumstances of her untime1y death
and remember the bitter pain she suffered
and the intense agony she endured before
her release, we would not if We could call
her back to undergo it again, for we know
from the testimony she has left us, aud
from the pure, sincere christian life she
= lead, and from the ardent zeal she mani
tested in her Masters cause, that she has
gone to
That holy land, that world of light,
Where the long dark night of time is past,
And the morn of eternity dawns at last
Where the weary saints no more shall roam
But dwell in happy, peaceful home,
Where the brow with sparkling gems is crowned
And the waves of bliss are floating.
I write merely to pay slight tribute to
the memory of beloved friend Confined
to her bed for six weeks, during the heat
of midsummer, suffering agones which
continually racked her frame and comfort
ed her limbs not one murmur or word oi
complaint ever escaped her lips. She on.
ly regretted that she was the cause of Sc
much sorrow and trouble to her sisters
and friends. So patient and gentle was
she in her sufferings, that those who were
with her, though they loved her in health,
almost idohzed her in sickness. God bless
those noble sisters for their watchful care
of her, and for their untiring efforts to al
lcyiate her pain. Surely they will moi
lose their reward. He who does not over
look the giving of but cup of water tc
one of His disciples, will not forget this
kind attention to one of His best beloved
and though she cannot return to them
God grant that they may so live that wher
death comes to them that they may go tc
her, and dwell forever with the Lord, il
those mansions prepared before the foun
dations of the world for Gods elect.
have mentioned no especial character
,istic in ,the, life, of my friend, because
deem it useless, Her whole life was tina
of a true Christian woman, in the full
sense and meaning of that term, and he
departure was that of saint of God, rca
dy, willing, desirous of entering upon the
rest that remaineth for His people," anC
now
"'Mid the ransomed throng, mid the sea of bliss
Mid the holy cty's gorgeousness,
Mid the verdant plains, mid angels cheer,
Mid the saints that round the throne appear,
Through endless years she there shall prove,
The depths Of Saviour's matchlcss love-"