The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-09-03
ORETU AIR u.
SAMUEL D. DECKER.

The subject oftbis sketch was born at Reseca,
Monroe county, on the twentieth day OF Sep |
tember 1852 and died at Mountain Home IN
the same county On the eleventh day of August
1874 aged q years, 10 months and 29 days.
Thus has passed away from our midst
young man Of than ordinary promise and
intelligence, one, who by his strict moral con-
duct, upright ard gentlemanly department, and
uniform kindness and respect to all had endear-
ed himselfto large circle of relatives, friends
and acquaintance. Just launching out upon
the boiserus, stormy ocean of life, his prospects
loomed up before him. brilliant and glowing
Endowed with extraordinary business qualitica-
tions, he bid fair to become one of the most
successful business men of our county and
looked forward with proud anticipations to
bright and hopeful future. But God, who is
too wise to to err and too good to be un&ind,
and who holdeth in his hands the destinies of
all men, saw fit to lay upon him. His affiic-
tive hand. About two years ago that fell de-
stroyer of the human race, consumption, tas-
tened upon him and claimed him as his victim,
and although the best medical skill to be found
employed and everything was brought into re-
QUESTION that the minds of tender, afectionate
and devoted parents and kind neighbors could
suggest to stay the hand of disease and death,
yet all to no purpose. He continued gradually
to grow weaker until about six months pre-
vious to his death when he was confined to his
room. How he fingered in agony and distress
of body, cherishing and ciinging to the fond
and deusive hope of ultimate recovery and
| looking forward to a complete restoration to
health until about two months before the sum-
mons came which called him hence, when he
gave his heart to God, received the ordinance
! of baptism, and was admitted to membership
in the Oakland NJ E. Church on probation.
From that period one of the most eventful In
the history of this young man, he looked forward
with joyful antcipations to the period of his
release from earth, and his triumphant admis-
sion to the kingdom of eternal glory. His faith
in God grew stronger and his prospects for
heaven and immortal glory brighter as his
body grew weaker. He had seen the King in
his beauty and he was sensible that "ior him
to die was gain for he realized that "if this
earthly house of his tabernacle were dissolved.
be had building of God, a house not made
with hands, eternal and in the heavens"
Just previous to his departure hence he
summoned each of his relatives to his bedside,
gave each a kiss and a farewell and then with
smile of holy triumph and with hands extern
ded toward heaven his pure immortal spirit
passed away to be forever with the Lord.
! Sammie is gone and we are left to mourn his
| loss but we do not mourn as those who have no
hope, being conscious that our loss is his gain.
| He has shown us in his peaceful, calm and
happy death, how Christian can die and set
before us bright example ofchristian patience
and resignation amid the severest trails, which
it would be well for US to initiate.
His remains were inferred at Oakland and
were attended to their last resting place by a
! large concourse of weeping relatives and sym
pathizing neighbors and friends.
| May God bless us all, and especially the
afflicted parents, brothers and sisters, and help
US all to profit by this solemn lesson, so that
we may be prepared to meet Sammie in the re-
gions of light and bliss, is the earnest, sincere
prayer of one who knew him well and who
loved him dearly.
L. III. HELLER.