Middletown transcript., 1880-02-07
IN mEMORIAM.
"What is life? it's but a vapor
Soon il vapishes away

true and beautiful thought, yet when
death comes in our midst, sad one Such
were our feelings when We read the announce
ment of the death of Mrs Alice Walker Il
name SO long associated with Middletown
that you can scarcely think Of one without
recalling the other Born, lived, died may
say, aud buried in MiddletOwn with an ap-
proximate record of fifty years TO her credit.
Probably there is no fact more certain, none
more generally recognized, than that death is
necessity OF nature, or n peaceful rest of
tolls and labors. Yet how strange, how un-
philosophical our feelings when this sleeping
state in s stiffness. creeps upon and lays its
icy hands on a beloved friend or relative.
Then comes the meditation hour. 1t is then
We feel how one has established friendship
in our souls by regular and, as it were, con-
secrated affection which seems Impossible ever
TO pass from memory. Il is thea we realize
that part OF ourselves has gone, rs our re-
| lations with one another seem to he pIrt OF
our individuality. The deceased connected
| herself with the church at an early age, ano
las been long, consistent and useful chris
tian Consistent because she was reasonable
and conscientious in her religious belief
Useful, because her good influence was always
fit, especially among her christian friends.
She was an excellent Bible student One sell
dom meets an unproiesSional lady more COM
verssnt with the Bible She could locate
most any passage given her and could q,oIe
scripture BY the hour. Her love for her
church was not less. She remarked once,
that the church was not an absolute necessity,
nor even part of Christianity, but glo-
riOus means to perfect q christian end
That as in union there is strength. power so
must the combined influence of individuals
as a church be greater. This was her reason
for her regular attendance, especially to her
class and prayer meetings At the age OF
seven she read music, and took a seat in the
choir by the side OF her much respected father,
who a. ways confessed to the great pride of
early identifying his children with The church
She imbibed his influence early, and for the
latter fifteen years of her life has scarcely been
known to be absent from her weekly class
meetings. unless in extreme sickness. A
beautiful example of The souls attachment TO
the religious observance Of duty. This death
is all the more sad because it was premature,
brought on by over anxiety and grief for her
afflicted son. For to her the family was al
most the individual No ties were stronger,
none sweeter. Her children were her hope.
But her life has now changed. Her hopes are
no longer mortal. Her shortened life on
earth has only Heightened her happiness in
heaven. v hat greater consolation could an
afflicted family have? 20 death, where is
thy sting had no echo in her ear A terri
BILE step 10 be taken is that of death Nature
itself almost trembles when face to face with
The unknown eternity. But Alice had no
fears She longed for death FOR its promised
rewards. In childhood had she learned
There is II land, whose confines lie
Beyond the reach OF care and pain
and doubt not has often sung in her refec-
i tive moments
long to lay this painful head
And arhing heRrl beneath the sod
To slumher, in that dreamless bed,
From ali my daily TOLL