Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-04
s. Goodbye, Little Darling 81
Noble Tribute to "a Wife.

{" Goodbye, Little Darling "A
Noble Tribute to q Wife.
Below we publish the beautiful and elo-
quent tribute of Maj. S. A. Jonas, of the
Aberdeen Mississippi Examiner, to his de-
ceased wife, the late Mrs. Julia J. Jonas.
Few men or women with heart can read
| this touching tribute without moist eyes
and choking sensation in the throat:
Pardon the lack of editorial in this issue
the pen that beseeches truce to-day
| has strlven hard to do it's duty to its pa
irons through weeks Of heart-yearning
and heart-breaking long days of anxious
ana tormentlng care, and night of hope
ful watching, and to-day-but, bear wit
ness, not oft before-the soul that gave it
what of animation it possesses, is lost i'll
the egotism of it's own misery.
On Thursday eve the angels left the
gates OF Heaven ajar, AMI a weary sufferer,
upon whom centered all the hopes and
dearest love of d ting husband and two
ielpless little babes, went forth through
the canopy of night to join mother who
mad persisted in the cruel flames while on
IN erritnd of patriotism and mercy; a babe
that only bloSSomed to be eXhaled, and
brother who gave his brave young life a
wiling sacrifice for liberty and South
land.
y;lia J. Jonas was born in Huntsville,
Madison county, Ala. on the 2nd of April,
lS49 WAS married on Thursday, the 18th
Of May, 1869, and closed her beautiful eyes
forever upon world she loved and adorn-
ed on Thursday night. November II, 1874
IN angel translated from earth to heaven
at the early age of twenty-five years, seven
months and ten days.
The patter of the tiny feet that have SO
often borne her to the bedside of the at
tl.cted will never again signal her approach
to those to whom her bright smile and sill
very accents brought hope, comfort, sun
shine and surcease OF sorrow and pain.
The voice so wonderful in the pathetic
Interpretation of the masteries of song, hat
has in the gentle ballad so often wooed
from nsoodness and misanthropy the heavy
hearted and oyerburdened, and won the
love Of all whose love WAS worth the will
ning-that in the solemn chant or hymn
has to many a worldly ear exalted and i'm
pressed the beauty, nobility and majesty of
worship; and which WAS ever at the SER
vice-in the aspiration of well-doing-of
all who sought through music the promo
ton Of good ends, is now exalted to that
heavenly choir where Gods own children
sing eternally His praise, and harps attuned
to angel minstrelsy testify to his matchless
power and fathomless love.
In life as in death she was not alone the
idol of those who were bound to her by
ties OF blood aad Heaven recorded VOWS,
but g in a whole city full" all were her
friends and lovers.
The physician, who Through many weary
nights so devotedly and patiently essayed to
stay the ebbing tide, wept over her as though
she had been his child rather than his de-
ay,I 1,tyt frin o,,d nn
know how carefully he guards his speech,
will not lightly esteem an expression of his
willingness to give his own life to God to
purchase a further lease of life for her.
But love and sympathy avail not when
the Great Shepherd singles out a gentle
lamb to be gathered to his flock, and the
tender embrace that would have shielded
her from all mundane harm, could only
claim the caSket when the Master sought
to regain a jewel that had 50 long sparkled
to gladden. our eyes. Among those who
followed all that remained of g Little
Darling " to the spot where, locked in the
fastlieSs of roc> it rests, both races were
represented, for she was beloved of all who
knew her. And when Bishop Paine be-
side her grave told in simple and beautiful
langu ,ge the story of her young life and
it's siad ending, without intent to point IL
moral, and without single doubt as to
the award of Heaven to her he had known
so long and loved SO well. there waa no
heart unsounded to its hidden depths in
all the throng who listened to his
words.
1t was on the birthday of the aged pre-
late that she answered, Yea | am ready
and coming z" to the summons Of her
God.
The generous sheaf of seventy-fye illus
trl0uS years have been spared To the CLEAN
Ell, and the Bishop had intended to break
bread that night at his own board with
those dear friends who had walked far5h-
EST with him on life's journey, when the
cry Of anguish from crushed healgs that
told of a spirits fight reached an ear that
plant. and the good old man resigned the
anticipated celebration Of Times lavish
gifts in sympathy for the fate of one to
whom the days were doled so sparingly,
Goodbye ! Sweet Heart, Goodbye
The zephyrs will sigh through the trees
that wave over you, and the wild birds will
MARBLE above you the weird, strange notes
that only their little Threats and yours
could compass, and when the clash Of ele
ments that betokens the enthronement of
winter, the wild winds strike a thunder
harp Of pines they will not disturb your
slumbers. or cause the finger Of eternal ST.
lence that fate hath lifted to waver or
tremble.
Goodbye Little Darling" Goodbye!
The pen that hesitated to fully speak yonr
praise when life with all it's charms and
blessings was your dover will be- pardoned
by those that have loved and lost, and
those to whom God has been more earthly
indulgent than to your husband, il it TO-
day pays this little tribute to your men,
ory God be with you and that he may
keep your image and record green in the
hearts of all that mourn and miss you now
is the prayer of the loved and loving one
from whose arms you were taken.
God bless you Little Darling"