Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-15
OBITUARY.

DAVID w. PARRISH was born in Franklin
County, N. e., December 10, 1883, and died
at the residence of his son, JAS HI. Parrish,
in Christian County, KY, March 81, 1876,
aged 81 years, months and II days.
Mr.. PARRISH was in many respects a re-
markable man. He possessed "a fine con-
stitution, and his habits of toll and tenn
perance were well calculated to bring to
him length Of years. He was very intel
lectual, and had the good sense to follow
through life the business to which he was
so well apprenticed in boyhood. No mar
vel that his life was success, and that he
amaSsed considerable wealth. To his cOun-
try he was a good citizen in peace and
good soldier in war. To his friends he was
true, kind and generous. To his family he
was tender. affectionate and devoted.
Though his children were settled in life,
yet to him they were children as long as
farm too feeble to- MI his place In society,
but never too old or feeble to look after the
interest ofhis children, for whom he SEEM
ed to feel the same fondneSS as when they
climbed upon his lap in childish innocency.
He worked for his estate, willed it to his
offspring, and became his own executor.
The honesty, integrity and fine judgment
of such q man fits him pre-eminently as
witness for Jesus and religion. Whatever
christianity may have developed in him
in life, or whatever sanction IL may have
received from him in death, is entitled TO
our serious consideration and credence.
At one period of his life he had well nigh
made the mistake so often made by others
that of estimating the power and Influence
of religion by the character of its devoteeS.
This was temporary. and he soon adopted
opposite and orthodox course, estimating
christian character by the standard erected
by the Divine Master. Christ claims the
homage of youth, and Mr.. PARRISH pain
fully felt and tearfully repented his re-
missness in this particular. Scripture
teaches US TO train our children in the way
wherein they should go, assuring us that
when they are old they Will not depart
from it. Mr.. PARRISH repeatedly referred
tc his christian mother, and ratified on his
death bed the act in which she conSecrated
him to God in his infancy. Although
eighty-SiX years OF age, surrounded by q
group or his own having children, yet the
name of mother and thoughts of her love
and counsel SOftened his couch of pain and
death, and sweetened his cadence to the
tomb. Whatever of duty he may have
neglected in life, in old age, afI1iction and
death he trusted his mothers God. Christ
says. Repent and believe the gospel"
Mr.. PARRISH, with broken heart and brim-
| full eye, bewailed his sins and said, 81 have
| been lying here giving up everything and
| rolling all my burden upon Jesus" Our
| Savior enjOins separation from the world.
| Mr., PARRISH renowned the world and gave
| his hand to the writer in ohurch-fellow-
| ship amid the sobs, tears and thankSgiv-
| ings of his family and neighbors. o, it was
| sweetly solemn to see him, in the full vigor
| of gigantic and unimpared intellect, hold
| forth his trembling and emaciated hand
and receive the Sacram entail symbols to his
| own comfort. And when prayer was Offer
| ed that the communion typed on earth
| should be realized in heaven, his hearty
| "Amen" and Lord grant it" told plainly
of a soul full of faith and of the Holy
Ghost. But the man who honored his
| father and mother loved the companions
| of his bosom, toiled through long life to
| raise in comfort large and loving family
| of children, has gone TO his reward, This
| IS the testimony he leaves as a legacy to
| those who knew him and who were cogni-
| zant of his virtues. Religion is true. Re-
! pentance toward God and faith in Jesus
| Christ His Law the conversion of the soul
| through the operation of the Holy Spirit
| are doctrines to be realized in life in order
| to make death peaceful and happy. Ex-
| periencing these blessed doctrines, we can
| triumph over fear by faith and live in death
| itself, II know my heart is changed and
my sins forgiven, My prospects for heaven
| are far brighter than could have expect
| ed considering my long delay in giving my
heart to God" TeStifytng thus he ascend
| ed to God.
Fair mourners with tributary tears will
| water for years to come the charnel house
| where sleeps so well the dust of their saint
ed father, and the delicate fingers that
| wiped the death damp from his brow will
scatter flowers DER his house of clay, while
from trembling lips Will fall in broken
| ascentS peans of praise to the memqrY oil
| one SO sadly missed by them. If the law
| of sympathy lives beyond the tomb, then
| the angel father may be permitted to hover
about the dwelling places of those he loved
and ministered to on earth, to hush the
notes of sorrow, and beckon the mournel
! to the skies.
7. ]. DUNCAN.