Middletown transcript., 1874-05-09


In Middletown, Delaware; the war is over; the
spirit Of enterprise, the kindly forccs Of nature,
and the sweet inhuence Of Christian charity have
combined TO obliierate many of its traces; the
sun is shining 10 clear sky; patriots and
christians am hiking heart again It is day Of
gladness 70 norc than one heart in the cheerful
congregation. Lydia R. Wilson and J6lnss p.
Rothwell stand side by side in the house Of God
to pronounce their vows and receive the bless
ings OF the ministers Of Christ who oficiate on
the interesting occasion. And the friends who
tender their congratulations TO the happy pair,
do II with the conviction that she has given her
self to man that is worthy Of her love, an0 that
he has taken wife who will prove comfort
and q blessing to him. Four years, nearly five,
Of welded bliss ensue; the scene changes again; ;
the wife, the mother is prostrated with sickness ;
fin husband, relations and friends are anxious;
medical skill is called into reQuisition; earnest
prayers are offered nothing that love can sug-
gest IL left undone; TO aiiectionate friends il
seems best that she should continue here, but to
Him whose Judgment is unerring it appears bet
ter thnt she should depart, and the mortal strife
teralinate-ihe dust returns unto earth as it was,
the spirit to God who gave it, Such is the story
Of one human life. Many others are like il. II
was not life drawn out through many years
and Astounding in incidents of romantic or ex-
citing character; but in that one brief life, .,
how much Of affection, of hope, OF JOY aud grief! !!
from the entrance into this world and its part in
the activities of the present life, OF the spirit that
has passed into eternity. Somewher in the
level land that 10 washed on one side by the
waves Of the Chesapeake and on the other by the
Delaware Bay, the form that enshrined that
spirit is buried out of sight. There is sorrow in
the house of which her presence WAS the light
And here beyond the Alleganies, hundreds of
miles away from the scenes 10 which memory
loves 10 revert, | sill in sadness as ! think of q
nearer grave in the shadow Of these Western hills,
and recall the beloved features of one most dear
to me. We are humai, and therefore we weep.
We must be less or more than men not 10 sorrow
In borcavemt nj. Our Saviour wept, An in
spired Apotes tells US that =" no Christening for
The present seemelh to be joyous, bnt grieuons !"
and re knoW ~ Faith in the precious promises
OF Christ brings consolation, but does not de-
strov sensibility; neither was 1t intended 10 do
so. And, though we sorrow, we sorrow not as
those that are without hope. We have the assu-
rance that " them that sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him." Our hope respecting the sub
ject of this notice is that she sleeps in Jesus.
She sought the Lord in early life; she confess
ed him before men, in the ordinances Of His
house. We have never heard that she pretended
to be perfect. But we have been assured that
Christ was her trust and consolation when heart
and flesh were failing. 1t is not TO be supposed
that II cost her no pang to leave her husband,
help was given in the time of need the pang
was soon over and now we recall the precious
words: I" Blessed are the dead that die in the
Lord, from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit for
they rest from their labors, and their works do
follow them" Our pious fricnds have gone be-
fore; We have the consoiing reflection, il we are
followers OF Christ, that each day brings hearer
the grand reunion Of saints; and that it will not
be very long until we are with our loved again.
Oh that we may be counted worthy 10 obtain a
part in the first resurrection. Husband, child,
father, brothers, friends, as We move on in
the solemn procession to the world invisible, let
us take comfort from the Divine declaration
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will uwell with them, and they shall lie
his people, and God himself shall be with them,
and be their God, and God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away" NJ.
Pittsburgh, Pa, April I'D, 1874.