Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-05-01
{ From Ge Baltimore Episcopal Methodist. ]
Unobtrusive Worth.
: u'kESDaEr RElLEY. D. D.

=. EENhhEE hEiLE1. -. y.
Il is 20, always in the din and hustle of
puplc lie that We are to look for the highest
examples Of merit; they may be found here,
but are not frequently met with in the more re-
tined walks Of society. among those who cG.ti-
waite ua higher ambition than usefulness in the
domestic circle. Such was the train of thought
that crossed the mind of the writer, rs recent
Is. on a brief risit to bis Nfends in Charles
town. Jefferson County. West Virginia, he
stood beside a newly-made grave ia the old
Methodist chur,h-yard Of tie place.
The surroundings embodied but few OF those
modern improvements which 80 50 far to disSi-
pate the natural drearinesS Of The graveyard !;
they rather revealed the impress OF neglect
which is the more palpable, since the establish
mout Of new public cemetery IN the neigh
borhCod has drawn attention away from the
Older dcuouiuatiopal grounds. Aud yet this
old cemetery has clustered about it associations,
The duplicates 81 which are hardly as yet pos
sib,e 10 the new Here lie the remaius of cltl-
gems who distinguished the former history, es-
peciaily the MeihudiSm. of the place. 10 one
enclosure we look upon the graves of to Rev.
Thomas Keyes and wife, two prominent Metbo-
Gists OF over half a century ago the iUrmer
local preacher of eminent Usefulness. Near
by. in another enclosure, may he seen the mar
bic slab. beneath which repose the dust OF the
Rev Seely Bum an old jtinerant of the As
bury School, who retired, shortly after his
experimentation. 10 this tuwn and here spent the
remaining years of hiS life, preaching Christ
aud doing good as opportunity offered. eudear-
ng himself to all by his blau,eleSS ilrportn,snt
and !erveut piety. The remains Ot lis wife,
Sasauaah, Who survived him many years, and
died dnrua the late war at the advanced age
% uiaetv-Scveu, sumber by his SIDE; white
within the same enclosure all that was mortal
% Mrs Susan Ann NJ. b. Kelley, their adopted
daughter aud late wife Of tic writer, with two
Of her children. await the summons Of the
sane resurrection trump. Nj far distant may
he seen the graves Of Charles Gibbs and wife,
and the newly-made grave is that Of their
daughter. Mrs. Sarah Jane johnson, sister 10
Mrs. Kelley aud related to all the other parties
named, who departed this life january ],
1875. In the sixty-third year Of Ecr age. The
daughter of a class leader and reared in the
Ian Of Nethodsm. Sarah Jane Gibbs early
cave her heart To Christ and lived a consistent
Methodist until called from the Church mill
taut 90 the Church triumphant. When only
twelve years of ace she was suddenly deprived!
If her father. and as their eldest born soon
rendered valuable service 10 her mother IN
rearing and educating the other children. She
was united IN marriage 20 Mr Thomas John
SOU. IL methodist class leader, August Is, 1888
and their union, which lasted nearly thirty
seven years. WIS ouc ii great mutual happl-
ness. SIS johnson was one OF those unubuu-
>iv, persons who must tie well-knowu To tc
appreciated. She desired no public uotorieiy,
wcicuius the happiness Of domeSii; life, she
earnestly addressed herself TO tie work OF
making her Lomea paradise toher husband ami
ch.llIcu, and In this WaS cn'lnen'ly successful
Il was plea>atl indeed 70 share her hospitality
aud look upon tie uuprctehtious comfort AVID
1ui,t satisfaction which Icjsucl supreme III
that household.
But the best arran scmcntS iur earthly hap
piress must. sooner or later, be Interrupted.
md 50 il occurred in this case. tew Years
since. declining health compelled Mrs. }. 10
l,,f,t from, the n8ie active duties Of her house
h.l and % await the will Of her Master. In
III, she succeeded admirably, for though much
afflicted from ! eift GiSeaSr, yet not a mnrnnT
or other 81 % ol impotence ever maUed tie
rvcu tenet 81 her Christian lie. Tier death
tlaugl sudden was enc Of sublime aud quiet
Triumph. and without q doubt. she resigned her
soul ii,o the keeping Of her Rcieener aS she
r,srcnllv ,usk into the Sumter cf death
leaving to her husband and children the legacy
. IL a Sp1iltsS life aud in the assurance that
their loss was her eternal gain.
In reviewing her history have seldom met
with a lady who SO fully answered solomon 5
ideal # a model woman rs contained IN FRO
verbs NM. True To Der God true to her iaml-
ly, true 10 all her relations Of life, her price
was indeed above rubicS
HheeliHg. IT, Ia. april s, 1919.