The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-17
IN NIENIORIAM.

There is something so winning and beauti
full in young, vigorous, manly life, that we
even contemplate its closing with dread and
sorrow. 1t has in it such grand and limitless
capabilities, such an unbounded field for the
exercise of its powers, such rich opprotunl
ties for doing good, such promises Of useful
ness, such ripe golden harvest of honor,
that when death, in whatever form, draws its
dark shroud around it, we feel thrill of
horror and rebelliously array ourselves against
the decree from which there is no appeal
And so when it was announced, with almost
bated breath, that Trueman Smith was dead,
and drowned, we looked into each others faces
with blank amazement as if dreaming, and
refused to believe the report. But few
hours before, he walked in and out before
this community with the conscious dignity and
pride of fresh, pure, honest, noble young
manhood, with no unkind thought for any one
of Gods creatures, loved and respected by
every one, loving all men. And now in a
moment, and in way most unexpected, cut
off from the honorable achievement of the
past-unblemished and nnblurred-from all
the charming and comforting surroundings of
the present, and all the justly anticipated re-
suits Of the future. 1t was but natural that a
whole people should, in such an hour and I'M
utT SuCI u uiOWy EcSDuHu III utdIlIelL SgUlDa-
thy with crushed and stricken household,
in which the victim was the idol and the pride.
The writer of this poor tribute to one whom
he peculiarly and especially loved, knew
Trueman Smith his entire life, and has been
intimately and corfdentially associated with
him for such time as to give him full means of
knowing his character. In the light of that
knowledge he bears willing testimony that he
never heard him utter an unkind word, nor
give suggestion Of an impure thought Mild,
modest, too difiident indeed, unobtrusive, yet
firm in his convictions and unchangingly true
to them, always pleasant, in speech and man
ner, his presence was ever welcome, and we
missed him when away Faithful to his teach.
ers, to his parents, to his family, to his in
strnctors, to his duty, to God by life white
as the snow drift, and pure as a maiden soul
from touch or thought Of impurity, he had
every prospect Of an honorable and q useful
life. 1t might not have been brilliant, il
would have been true, and earnest, and in
corruptible. Men would have trusted him
and not been betrayed. His word or his duty
would never have been violated. In large
and active intercourse with the ways of the
world the writer, weighing well his words, has
never known a purer, more gentle, more trust.
worthy boy than Trueman Smith. He has left
record that his family may well cherish and
guard as worthy in itself and worthy of imita-
ton. His unselfshness and elf.sacrifcing
disposition was grandy displayed in his DEATH
In the dark hour of his helpless trial his
thoughts were not ofhimself but ofanother who
was in his charge. He saved his life, and lost his
own. He gave not only morsel Of bread
and a cup of cold water to weary one, he
gave his all-his life. Dear, gentle, loving,
soul, may we not, in perfect trust and hope,
leave thee with that blessed One, whose com.
forting words come to us freighted with
consolation and blessing, ''Inasmuch Us ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me-" T.