Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-28
Friendship. Tribute to the Dead.

The following touching tribute to the
personal worth of the late Johnnie d.
Dougherty, so deeply loved and esteemed
by ali, is from the pen Of young lady OF
Memphis, who had enjoyed the confidence
aud friendship of the noble young man
whose untimsly death is regretted by SO
many:
"Johnie II. Dougherty, second son Of
Mrs. Maria Dougherty, died In TINS city
Nov. 10, 1872, after an illness OF lew
months"
Dying with the bright and bea utiful
autumn leaves; falling to the earth with the
summer roses; going to rest with the sweet
warblers of the forest; aye, sleeping by the
side of loved ones-who shall sit Is not
we'll with thes?" But few short weeks
and we sat by the bedside OF the pale, pa
tent sufferer, trying to administer comfort
with words of sympathy and friendship.
We knew the lamp of life was giving out
its last Pickering light, that the hectic plush,
which gave such sad beauty to his manly
features, was but the forerunner OF that
messenger which delays not at our bidding.
We knew that soon the 'golden boWf'
would be broken and the mothers pride
laid low in the dust, yet did the melancholy
tidings find US unprepared. 0, what avail
ia it that we sit beside the slumber-
ing babe, dreaming vainly Of q hap
nv future, when, he the mothers dar-
ling, ere be shall have thrown aside the
the sports of boyhood for the honors Of
noble manhood, shall perish from her sight
with the summer 1owersb Whence fed the
beautiful dreams of the mothers vision,
telling so oft of the strong arm from which
she will find protection in her pilgrimage
through life? Look into the casket and be-
hold The end of all earthly hopes. ., could
the bereaVed heart speak its anguish to the
world around her, how many heroine
would we find whose name will never be
written on the pages of fame. Many
rough billow before has dashed tercely
against the now bereaved household, but Tar
above the gloom shOne one star, one COM
forter, shedding sweet beauty around the
life of the devoted mother. In bis unself-
ish manhood she found all the bright reali-
ties of fQithfutneSS and affection for which
her heart had longed; yet even that earthly
prop has been removed. In all his glorious
Youth ennoblsd with soul uncorruDted by
the world, he has passed away, leaving no
memory less sweet than that Of patient,
gentle sufferer awaiting his Fathers
will; and may not the remem-
brance Of all this resignation
plead with you now against despair.
Well our Heavenly Father knew the
rough places of Hfe-how the brayest spirit
may be brought low by temptation and
crime-how the seductive voice OF Gin may
charm till the strongest bow in submission
then why should we mourn that johnnie Is
safe in the bosom of that Savior, who
having our nature was tempted even as he9
Why should we not say, "pesce, be still"
when we know that in the beautiful land
of the blest there are no more temptations,
no more of remorse for sins committed
in the flesh? In the twilight hour when
heard was bis welcome voice, how often
memory gilds the holy pastwith bright visions
of your noble Johnnie. Suchhours atone for
many a sorrow more bitter than death, for
it breathes of him whom you so loved.
May the bereaved mother and devoted sis
ter, who were the angels administering
comiOft to him during his long illness ever
find in Christ, a present help in time OF
need; and when the Violets come again zoe
will bring offerings to the sacred spot where
he rests and lay them with all their sweet
perfume to miDgle with the evening winds
which watt the signs of earth's Borrowing
ones to his spirit now in heaven. To the re-
manning brother, what consolat ion can we
offer; we can only say, follow our darling
Johnnie, in life, even as ne followed Cnrls.
in death. NINA.