Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-10-16
REV PHos B. PITTS.


REV. THOS. B. PITTS.
I'm dreaming of childhood, happy days for
ever passed,
Then knew not but such day would for
ever last,
As hand in hand we ran, my cousin Tom
andJ,
/ Ger the green hills beneath the lovely sum
mer sky.
Among the rocks we played, and beneath
the tall oak trees,
Beside the clear stream we loitered in the
summer breeze;
And as we did our feet in the flowing wa
tiers lave
We ne'er dreamed that ON the ocean was
one angry wave.
These bright and happy days had scarcely
fitted by,
When found that clouds could dSrken the
brightest sky.
When seventeen summers had glided
smoothly away,
Then came the ever remembered lonely, |
gloomy day.
1t was the day he came TO say, gently say
good bye,
Ny fortune In the sunny west I'm going to
try.
There in that strange land in every heart
| he found place;
The index of noble soul was his smiling |
face.
1t was there he found friend above all |
others dear,
The friend who never refused his manly |
heart to cheer.
I'll never forget the radiant brightness Of |
his face,
When on Christmas night he told me Of the |
time and place,
That he gave himself to God while time
with-him should last,
And for the ages after time with him had /
passed.
Twas at midnight when darkness wrapped |
the world in fear;
The gamblers angry voice was ringing loud
and clear;
He crept forth from that den Of wickedness /
and sin,
No light guided him, it was dark without
and within.
He bowed himself to the cold earth ne'er
again TO rise,
Until the hosts Of heaven descending through
the skies,
Should fan his peaceful brow with wings
of shining bright
And God should pour upon him beams of |
golden light.
The heavenly windows opened, he upward
: turned his face,
Behold the glory Of God filed that dark,
lonely place.
He vowed unto the blessed Savior there and
then,
That he would proclaim his gospel to dying
men.
He left the land of Texas for his native
State,
Where he lived TO make himself truly, nobly
great.
He made happier the happy and cheered
the sad,
He made desOlate, aching hearts merry and
glad.
Affections heavy rod upon him sorely
pressed,
cheerfuIly he said, ."Thy will be done, Thy
cause be blessed"
Long we watched him slowly YEARLY pass
ing away,
Never an impatient word was he heard TO
say,
The saddest of all days to one know, came
al last:
lie stepped ON board the vessel and DER
the river passed.
with glory bright,
And cOmfortingly said, wife, wife IFS all :
right.
o what more could we ask than as they
enter the door
They should look back and say we'll sor- ..
row and sigh no more.
God has wiped away his tears with His
own dear hand
And given him inheritance in the promised
land.
Sister and brothers, he has shown you how
TO live
And how 10 die. Had the wealth Of earth :
been his TO give
He could not have made you so rich while
travelling here, :.
Nor could he have saved you one sigh or
falling tear.
Ere long you will have crossed enc by one
the chilly tide,
Nay you each like him its stormy tide
Outride.
The good mother can look out through sor-
row and behold
Her children entering safely through the
gates of gold.
There's one whose young heart is breaking
with its load Of grief,
Kind friends and flowing tears have
brought TO her no relief;
Out TO his grave alone she steals al even
tide
And bows her face to the cruel earth which
doth hide
The lovely, gentle form beneath whose
trusty arms
She had taken refuge from all that could do
harm.
Her heart knew no care, no sorrow, 10
sadness then,
Now il hath lost its joy and in. sorrow seeks
il again.
D how very soon were the gay bridal robes
laid down, :
And the sable garments of sorrow closely :
drawn round,
Il is comfort to know when ladened with
grief,
That Jesus only can, and will give us re-
Lief;
Up TO him we'll look and sorrowing seek
him on high,
For in time of need we viii find him pre-
cious and nigh.
His loved face we see not, nor his gentle
Yet we feel that cousin Tom IS towering
near. n
II is such peace, sweet peace, TO feel and /
TO know,
That he's done sorrowing ard suffering
below;
That our loved and departed have gathered i
round TO hear
Him tell about us all whom they left wan- >
dering here.
The time is not distant when God VIII call
all us home,
Then when into his glory lit mansion we
have come,
Throughout the ne'er ceasiDg ages Of eter- 7
nifty q
With ali we've loved here our everlasting
song shall be:
'Hallelujahl it's done, believe on the son
I'm saved by the blood Of the cruciAed one.' Z.
September 90, 70. MOLLIE Golfer, /
Norris Greek, Tenn y