Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-12-21
OBlTU AIRY.
DEATH OF ROBERT DOUGLAS.


The death of Robert Douglas, the
Youngest son of Rev. Robert Douglas
lately deceased, which transpired at his
home at Ferry Hill Place, on Wednes-
day morning last, the 18th inst, although
it was anticipated, both from the nature
and rapid progress of his illness-sent
severe shock through our community
and especially among his numerous
Young friends and acquaintance here
A native of Washington County
MARYLAND, where he has many reiatlVes
and friends, the near neighboihoo OF
his home Just over the river-to our
town and people, and the long and con-
slant intercourse, social and otherwise,
of himself and his fathers family with
them. made him seem like one OF us.
We, therefore, but give utterance to the
universal sentiment of our community
when we express our heartfelt grlef at
this sad bereavement, and extend our
warmest sympathies to the members OF
his family, in their deep affection. The
deceased was in the bloom and flower
of youth-the vigor and strength OF ear
" manhood. Amiable and kind In dis
position-generous and warm hearted,
he had that personal magnetism about
him which attracted hosts of friends and
held them. Those who knew him best
loved him most, and we do not know
of his having a single enemy in our
midst. Our young friend was confined
to his bed for little more thar five days,
but was complaining ofa bad cold for
several days previously, which seems to
have been the origin of the disease OF
which he died. When death, through
the agency of that insidious and most
fatal malady, typhoid pneumonia, first
laid its strong hand upon him, he hal,
to all appearance, promise and hope OF
long time and useful life. Nigorousand
robust in mind and body, none of the
ordinary indications of an early separa-
ton from his friends on earth were pre-
sent, in his person or manner. Great
as is the bereavement of his friends
sad as is this sudden parting, it is
source of the sweetest consolation TO
know that he was prepared to die-that
the Christian spirit which he had for a
long possessed and exemplitied, in his
life and conduct, at the outset OF his ia
tai illness and in full consciousness of
his condition, sustained him in this last
extremity, and led him to embrace ca
gerly, the consultations of the Christian
religion. Death, although it could bat
file the utmost skill of his three able
physicians OF the body, had no power
over the tender and heavenly ministra-
tons of the Physician of the soul. In
contemplating the early death of our
friend, we are forcibly reminded of the
terse TRANSPORTATION given in the lines
of Wordsworth
"Whom the Gods love die young,
Blu, they whose souls are dry as summers du't
Bum TO the socket"
When we have fully realized the full
ness of our own sorrow-the extent OF
our loss of one near and dear to us, it IS
much compensation to reflect that their
recompense and reward are so infinitely
greater and so far beyond our cause and
occasion for grief as not to be weighed
in the same scales. Before the soul is
soiled and SCARED by sin-before the
canker of worldly callousness has encas-
ed the fine susceptibilities of the heart
while the good Impressions of a well
trained childhood and a well spent
youth are yet fresh and clear upon the
tablets Of the soul, it often pleases God
to call his children to Him. He takes
them away from the temptations of this
world to an eternity of joy and bliss,
where no temptation is; there to live
forever in the company of angels and
archangels, and just men made perfect.
1t becomes us, then. who have yet to
pass through the dark valley Of the
shadow of death, to look beyond the
grave, for sources of satisfaction and
consolation, and, since our friend cannot
come back to us, to fit ourselves to go
where he has gone. L.