Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-10-16
For the Fayetteville Observer.
Mary Ann Drake.
Daughter of j. b. & Matte ID.
Drake, Aged II Years aud
Five Months, Died Oc-
I'd Il 4


Drake, Aged II Years aud
Five Months, Died Oc-
tOber End, 1873.
Her illness was short and pain
full; her death shock to all.
Yet she was not afraid to die, and
passed away peacefully. When
we weep above the gloomy mound
of fresh-turned sod, with its with
cred tiowers-emblems TO us of
earth's fading joys-wc feel that
she hes not there, but beyond the
clouds, beyond the stars, close by
the throne of Gcd, and her angel
hand beckons Us upward. The
almost unconscious listening for
the familiar football; the mex.
pressible yearniDg for the wonted
sound of her gleetuI, girlish voice
the shrinking from her vacant
chair and useless toys the many
whispered tendernesses that meet
them on all sides from her little
lnementoes. make the stunning
blow SO sudden and sharp, and
hard for her friends 10 bear, and
almost begets within them an en-
Wy of those who have gone before.
and are even now welcoming hel
to their kindred embrace.
! Yesterday she mingled with her
schoolmates, all life, enthusiasm
and buoyancy. Well may il
startle them that to-day she lies
still and unconscious of their trib
utes and tears. She expressed
herself, 81 hate to leave my little
friends" Let us hope that they
will all yet meet her beside "the
beautiful river"
! There Is one who has, witt
more than wonted tenderness
watched the opening of the young
mind and heart; placing props fol
each new tendril /; training every
opening leaf and bud ; feeling tina
each day the young foweret grew
more beautiful and dearer. II
her it was bitter trial to witness
the sudden blight, but a comior
to know that, transplanted to tht
bowers of the blessed, it is safi
from all chilling winds ant
poisonous breath" She flowers
still, though blooming in Para
disc. To that doating one, who's
startled faith and wounded low,
at first cried out, sit is more thar
| can BEAR" there is comfort il
the thought that her ''little Mary
may leave the "gates ajar," ant
ere long her angel harp may wei
, come the grandmother's en-
| trance there. May the mother
2 dear stricken mother-remember
"whom He IOUeth He chdStenetb
He hath taken her treasure
Oh! may her heart follow i
, heavenward ! May the though
comfort her, that ere yet th
; morning dew had changed to twi
, light tears, her precious one wa
. taken from this sorrow.shadowe,
vale to Heavens undimmed "a
dance. What, though the ''gold
len bowl was rudely broken"
| makes now one bright link NOR
in the precious chain that bind
, her soul to the throne above
May the father, bowed down b,
the weight Of this unloOked-fo
woe, hear the voice of his God
Il lore thee; ! lore thee; pas
under the rod" May he apprc
pirate that love; may it feed hi
faith and strengthen his purposes
and may his little Mary be tn
ministering angel that shall bea
the Fathers message of pardon
: ing peace, and bid him take com
fort in the promise "that al
things shall work together 70
good to them that love Him.
: May he grieve not that "eartI
hath one sufferer less, and Heaue'
one angel more" A FRIEND,