Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-11-18
I'll. B. PHILLE0. Editor

her time so we'll spent, that her mani
fold accomplishments her ungirlish
lore were theme for good-natured badi-
mage, which her modesty and mirth
alike repelled. In the heyday of youth,
with pleasure and usefulness beckon-
ing to her, and high hope and the
promise of long and glorious life. she
took passage for Europe, and hope and
love and life were beaten down into
the raging waters By this brave cap
tain rerishing at the post of duty.
Dining one day alone and somewhat
listlessly at the hotel, noticed at a
table near me a lady whose beauty.
and daintiness attracted my attention.
The years had touched her very tender
| ly. The curling gray hair was scarcely
softer than the gracious face beneath
it; the dashing rings not more beauti-
full than the hand they adorned. Two
or three handsome and statelysgentle-
men accompanied or accosted her; and
in their defense and frie ndliness and in
her pleasing, appealing, one might
almost say caressing maenners it was
easy to see that there was such lady
as the poet lined, who had
But fedson ihe rosee and laic in the lilies of life
L was curious and Interested enough
to learn her name; and two avs after
come the ntws that her only daughter
amiable. accomplished, full of promises
well-beloved-had met her death at
the hands of this brave captain. [
had seen tho mothers face Just in
time to feel the blow.
And all the world has read of that
young woman who was fast pressing on
into, il she had not already attained,
the front ranks of women; that be-
loved physician who was too much
engaged in doing to have much leisure
for talking, who was SO simply devoted
to her work and so brilliantly and BEN
evidently successful in her work, that
ho one thought to ask whether she had
any right to do it or not. The good
she might have wrought in the healing
of diseases the further good Of show
ING by that most true Of all tests, sue
cess, how well and wifely woman may
live outside of her sphere; the
honorable need of fame and the sweet
experience Of happiness the sea has.
swept them all away. One stiLl, willy
night, one brave captain perishing at
the post Of duty-and nothing is left
but kneeling figure diffusing calm, a
dead face smiling peace, and the un-
covered heads and reverent hands of
fishermen rescuing from the deep it's
prize. Truly, the brave captain did
great work at his post of duty.
Let it be thoroughly and forever
understood that death is the poorest
possible apology for an evil life, that
man not betray his trust and think
to escape condemnation by dying. He
may take himself out of the realm Of
human puniahnont, but not out of tho
human sentence nor can his children
so escape heritage of woe What
the world wants is not remorse and
despair, calling themselves by the name
of courage and flying to the refuge of
death but the courage of ife--faith
prudence, truth, fidelity to obligation,
absolute, unimpeachab!e trustworth-
mess, wise captains who will drop
their lead into the sea. not foolish ones
who, too late, will drop themselves.
Courage is not so cheap thing as to
be awarded to him who cbeapIy dies.
1t belongs rather to him who Loyalty
lives, watching at the post of duty,
and, may it please Heaven, coming
into port bravely, with staunch ship
and living souls.