Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-26

unmistaken evidences of decay in his
own health and powers. And soon after
witnessing the suffering and death of 50
many Of his fellow-creatures, and which
seemed to wiring his heart with anguish,
his own gentle spirit bAde last adieu to
the scenes of esrth, aud took ifs flight
through the pearly p ,rtSl. Not un-
acquainted with misfortune himself,
be seems early to have adopted
the beautiful principle OF helping the
unfortunate. Hissympathies were quick
and deep, and he was ever ready to offer
tie hand Of relief to the cry of distress.
He was ardent and true, though not very
general in his neutrality-suspicious. more
from predisposition to solitariness than
otherwise, for there was nothing mis- An
thropic in his nature. His piety was
fervent, firm and profound, yet in no
wise dogmatic, ascetic or illibeIal. For
one 30 young, ne was highly public-spir-
tied and whatever he undertook, he en-
listed in it with zeal and energy, and q
determination to do his part and to do 1t
well. Yet, he was not unduly ambitious,
and seemed to have been impressed with
the transitory character of all human
glory and the evanescence Of all human
hopes. His ambition seems to have been
to do his duty and to do it well. And
he did his duty and he did it well; that
too without ostentation and without any
especial view to a reward In the appro-
baton Of men. And here may remark,
how unequal mankind are, in the re-
ward they accord to the modest and hum
ble for virtuouJ deeds, as compared
with that they accorded to the ostenta-
tious and the renowned for the same
deeds. When an illustrious citizen per-
forms a noble act, the tongues OF men
herald it abroad and history records it
in enduring annals; and he finds his
reward in the eulogies Of men, while
hope of such reward may have prompted
its performance. But when the humble
and the obscure performs even noble
acts, it Is scarcely known beyond the
little hills of his own home, and he finds
his reward (if any st ALL not In the
praise of men, but in the decree of ap.
proval from his own breast, and which
approval is sweeter to the honest breast
than all the "plaudits that ever shook
the air with clamor." And whatever
unmerited discrimination mankind may
thus make, he most truly merits our ap-
probation aud applause, who, without
regard to rank or station, possesses the
most generous sentiments and performs
the most virtuous deeds proportioned to
bis capacities, his opportunities and his
circumstances. And, If am correct IN
stating this as the standard Of worth,
then, indeed, was Brother Robertson a
truly noble and meritorious man. Ii
knew him correctly, he possessed
that elevation OF mind and
nobility of soul which compre-
hend all the exalted sentiments
Of truth, charity, courage, generosity,
msgnaminity, and q contempt OF all
that dishonOrs character and diseh-
mobiles the name Of man, He was a
good citizen, true philanthropist, q de-
voted and faithful christian. He was
not what the world called a great man,
but he was more-he was q good man.
And if he had any faults land he doubt.
less had, for what man has not?) L
didn't know it, and l didn't want to
know it, never seek to discover i'm.
perfections in men possessed of the many
beautiful virtues that adorned the char
acter of Brother Robertson.
1None knew him but to love him,
None named him but to praise"
In that beautiful poem Of his entitled
'tLife Dreams" is this noble sentiment:
We DOEuc mg BIiclI obAAl may bOoA
What others ne'er have borne,
But never shall my memory wear
One thought by evil worn.
Why, oh, why are not such men
spared as examples to their race!
Though unknown to fame and q pill
grim of Obscurity, he is fit theme for
poets, ministers and essayists. And
when we contemplate the purity OF his
life and the beauty of his example, the
fountains of sorrow are again reOpened,
and we mourn anew for the loss of one
so good, Sd pure and so young. But he
is gone! Gone, never to r5turn! The
flowers will bloom again, but he will
not see them. The birds will sing again,
but he will not hear them. The stars
will shine on, but no more hell be-
hold them. Friends will remember him
but he will not know 1t, for dust has re-
turned unto the earth as it was, and the
spirit has returned unto God who gave
it. And these, amid fairer flowers,
sweeter songs, brighter stars and better
friends, he awaits the coming OF the
beautiful kingdom.
"Where the faded flowers shall freshen,
Freshen never more TO fade;
Where the shaded sky shall brighten,
Brighten never more to shade;
Where the sun blaze never scorches,
Where the star-beams CT ase TO chill,
Where the tempest stlrs its echoes
or the wood, or wave, or htllt
Where no shadows shall bewilder,
Where life's vain parade is DER,
Where the sleep OF sin is broRenI
And the dreamer dreams no more"
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