The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-06-11
HIRAM.
Correspondence.

{
For several weeks past no CORES
pondence from this place has been
sent to your paper. Affiiction has
been the cause of the failure of one of
your correspondents to report such
local items as may SEEM of interest
more or less. During the last month
there have been six deaths in our
midst.
Near midnight on Saturday, May
Both, in the freshness and promise of
his early manhood, Clarence G. Young,
only son of Lorette and Thomas
Young, of this place, passed away at
the early age of % years. With mind
uhdimmed, with the joys and sorrows
of life almost untasted, with the
brightest prospects of happiness be-
fore him, calmly, quietly and with
resignation, he yielded up his youth
tul life as softly as the murmur of
the evening breeze. Loved and loving
friends stood around him and heard
his last requests, and no eye was free
from tears 10 heart but swelled with
emotions of grief. BY nature joyous
and sunny. with many generous noble
impulses; generous even to a fault !;
| possessed of the incest and keenest
sense of honor, and a charity for the
faults of others, remarkable, and much
to be commended he was beloved
and esteemed by his associates and
more mature acquaintances. Over
his faults, (for what mortal is free
from them p let the mantle of that
virtue above all others, which SO per-
xaded his heart, be thrown. By his
bedside, for many weeks, has stood a
faithful, constant one, ministering to
his wants, to whom. had he lived, he
expected to be united. Could disease
have been stayed or death appeased,
in a few days more the "broken reed"
would have been happy bride. But
they were already knit together by
stronger than earthly ties.
What words can paint the .lenei-
ness of that fond heart, which but a
little while ago beat in unison with
one now stilled forever, or portray
the anguish of the tired soul seeking
to be released from its prison-house
of clay, and to join its mate on the
other shore? What wonder that the
stricken mother upon whose breast
his heart had been pillowed in his
helpless infancy, and whose heart was
ever yearning with love for her boy,
and whose every thought was for his
comfort and welfare, could only give
vent to the anguish of her almost
breaking heartin the piteous cry, Il
cannot give him up" or how can we
picture the sadness and dependency
of the father, whose days for these
many long weeks, have been days of
anxiety and care, and whose nights of
fitful slumber, or oftener of sleepless
watehfnlness have made him old be-
yond his years. Where now is the
hope of his life, his looked for stay in
hissdeclining years? And what shall
we say of that other tried spirit,
whose devotion has been so touching,
whose watchful care has been untir-
ing? With hand as soft as a wo-
mans, heart with tenderness. of q
mother, and the firmness of a Spartan,
if need be, whose only sign of falter-
ing was when there was no longer
need of his services. The most keen
Imagination cannot picture, the heart
crushing grief of the atfectionate sister
as she gave her dying brother the
parting kiss Inconsistencies for a
little season came to her relief. But
these are things too sacred for COM
ment. "As their hour of trial is so
may their strength be-"
The funeral services were held on
the Sunday following, at the family
residence at 8 O'clock p. M, in accord
ance with the deceased's almost last
request: " Bury Ne By Moonlight" +"
By far the largest concourse of
friends and relatives ever gathered, to-
gether in this place for a like purpose,
met to pay their last respects. Pres't
HinsdaIe, of Hiram College, conduct
ed the services, which were brief, but
appropriate and impressive. About
o'clock the procession left the house
/ for the place of burial, led by the
Hiram Cornet Band playing a Ldirge
selected by the deceased for the occa-
sion. The remains were tenderly
borne by the bearers, six in number,
composed of R. S. Stanhope, Charles
Fillius, Frank Mum, Fred E.Warren,
Frank Diller and G. w. Trask. The
whole scene was illumined by lanterns
and torches, and with their uncertain
light and fitfnl glare made it an occa-
sion not soon to be forgotten. At the
grave that exquisite composition,
''The Golden Stair" was beautifully
rendered by the Band, and combined
with the signing of the night wind
among the evergreen boughs, seemed
fitting requiem for one whose end
had been SO peaceful. Each member
of the band cast into the open grave
small boquet of flowers, as parting
token of their love and esteem for
their old leader.
Under the canopy of dark clouds
that obscured the light of the moon
for the moment, the last sad words
were spoken.-"Earth to earth and
dust to dust to dust" and the falling
earth gave token that all had been
done that mortals could accomplish
for the remains of their friend.
May we not hope that his beautiful
dream, shortly before his death, was
foretaste of what his freed spirit is
new enjoying, u.Ai @ - t5