Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-05-01
OBITUARY..

year 1859, April 9th.
"God in His wisdom has recalles,
The precious boon His love had given;
And tho the casket moulders here,
The gem is sparkling now in Heaven
Parents, relatives and friends now mourn
in sorrow that Matte is no more with us;
never again on earth TO cheer with her
sweet smiles, never more to comfort our
hearts with her gentle words and deeds Of
loving kindness; but We mourn As those
who have hope Of her eternal rest, believ-
ing the Savior whom she trusted and loved
has borne her safely on the other shore to
the realms Of endless bliss-to the home
beyond the sea, where We believe she now
is happy with loved ones who have gone
before, and has joined them in song and |
praise TO the great Jehovah, Lord of all ]
We look athwart the dark valley Of death |
without dismay, cheered by the bright |
thought that the land beyond is the scene
of happiness, holiness perfectcd-that there
all the hopes of the Christian shall have
their complete contamination.
We loved Matte in life-her quiet and
gentle manner, her loving devotion to her
parents, her affectionate tenderness to-
wards her brothers and sisters, and her
fidelity "a well as love for her relatives aud
friends; but more than all these virtues
blended with her bright intellect and hap
py, conteuted disposition We admired her
pure Christian life and pious example. Oh,
for a brighter gem of moral worth ne'er
shone in richer light than that of her own
character beautifed by every christian
grace; but our less is he- eternal gain.
She has gained Heaven.
Weeping mother aud father, grieve not
for Matte. While it may seem so hard TO
bear so painful an affection, and your
hearts heave in bursting sorrow when You
think Of the bright hopes you have cher
ished OF her coming usefulness, having just
entered the portals of womsnhood-a star
that would shine ip lovely light aud emit
a radiant influence for good in society, or q
rich opening flower, rich in all loveliness
that would yield a soothing fragrance and
make happy the hearts around the quiet
home -circle-all these at once blighted by
the touch Of death; oh, think the star, the
gem has been removed from earth to spar
kle in Heavens own bright world; the
blooming Hower has been transplsnted to q
more cougenial cline to adorn Eden bow
ers, where not the faintest breath Of cor
roding care nor the slightest touch of de-
cay can tsrnish or destroy the brightness
and sweetness
Some months before Matte was taken
sick she became deeply interested in hel
souls salvation, and did realize her sin,
! were forgiven in happy conversion. Or
Monday before she was called away from
earth to her home above, she experienced
a rapture Of soul greater, more joyful thar
since her couverson--a more peaceful a.
surancc Of her entire acceptance with God
that all her sins were freely forgiven
through tue blood of Christ. Hope Of eter
nal bliss through divine grace beamed npol
; her placid brow, q sweet smile of heavenl.
. love played about her lips, and calling he
mother to her bedside she exclaimed in tn
{, words of her favorite song, "Oh, how
" love Jesus, l do love Jesus Words ar
inadequate to describe the mingled feeling
Of parents, sisters and brothers, while the
lifted grateful hearts to God for His good
meas, they bowed their sorrowful spirits i
= humble submission to His holy will in thu
taking back TO Himself "the precious boo
His love had given
a. Wednesday following, the sun rose clea
ty and bright, all nature radiant in beant.
ct the birds warbled their sweet songs, II
II, flowers bloomed filling the air with rio
10 perfume, q soft breeze played among Il
ri leaves. II was the last day with Matt
er on earth. She left in the early spring-tim
er sweetly suggestive Of her own besutif
It's life. Matte ws willing TO leave all h
ad hopes behind, all those 40 dear TO her
ur the ties of love and kindred, to be vii
if Jesus, to be in Heaven where the tear
es. grief never again falls upon the cheek, n
Ter the parting werd heaves . sigh Of regr,
'er All during that day on which she left l
she would give to each and all who car
around her bed, Q word of sdmonition, be
. ging them to promise to meet her in Heave
She babe all An affectionate goodbye, n
till her voice and strength failed she "
continually uttering words Of praise