Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-12-13

.jtisA SJalG gA. ga.u n0I1
FOR the efEUEATo1.
In lfsmoriGIu. - sl1Ill :

1.-THE mem0fto@ thsjust 10 blsssed"--
is forcihlX exe@pliAs iAethe chareetst
Robert Gik 9son y H} IS died Nov. 26ih.
1881, 1t her rome HSaf Jennings GAP.
Augusta county In infancy, she and
her sister were deprived Of the protect
ing care of a father.
Her mother, being woman Of un-
common excellence, brought them up
with great care, and formed their char
acteTs by tho principles Of truth and in
tegrity. They, being of mere than or.
binary atfectionsteness Of disposition,
grew up under her tender ouIture5 OF
their hearts and heme affections, thor
oughly knit together as sisters-and
models as daughters. She lived to See
them presiding in their own houses, and
to realize that her schildren's delight to
cherish, and honor her, increased with
time.
Mrs. Gilkeson had many trials and
the death of her mother and sister--the
latter having preceded her only few
years-werer sore experiences. which
never faded from her heart. Possessing
native refinement of disposition and
delicscy of feeling, many things were
necessarily trials to her that might pass
unheeded by those of less finely strung
natures. Those qualities which made
her keeDly susceptible of mental pain,
were also the endowments which lifted
her for much social and domestic hap
Piness, and of being the means Of maxi
ing others happy. =
The writer Of this does not know at
what period she became christian, but
1t was manifest that her natural sweet~
Less of disposition was purified and en-.
obled by diviAe grace. For she was far
nom selfr1ghteOusnee ees-her only trust
was in the righteousness and the atoning
blood Of Jesus Christ. She was humble,
for she thought herself one Of the most
unworthy of Gods children ana sin
cerely esteemed Others better than her.
self. She was fruitful in kind words
and deeds to the afflicted and to the
poor. Nor were these ever bestowed
SYSTEMATICALLY. They were more
known to God, than to man. She
practically acted out that Charity
which thinketh no evil; that rejoiceth
In the truth; that envyeth not; that
beareth oil things; that believeth all
things that hoPeth all things." "Ths
heart of her husband did safely trust in
she professed friendship; for her
was of that purer type, which
adversity could not ALLEVIATE; nor the
breath Of calumny tarnish the object Of
it. in her esteem. She loved the house
Of God, and was constant in her attend-
ance there, unless necessarily prevent
ed. She loved the Word Of God, and
was much in the habit of ofreading 'Scott's
Bible," with his practical references
and comments; and when demonstrated
with for continuing this employment 80
long at night lest her eyes might suffer,
she would gently insist ON reading s.jhst
q little more" For some years she had
been subject of frequent and severe
sfckness-which, with all her other tri.
ais, were made the means Of her sancti-
fication, and she perceptibly advanced
in grace.
The summons to depart came in sud-
den, sharp attack. Her bodily suffarings
left her little time for thought or speech,
but the few remarks she was heard to
make evidenced that she unquestionly
trusted her body and soul in the hands
OF her God and Redeemer.
She scarce seemed to apprehend her
her eyes with surprise In the glory of
Heaven.
Tbisis no gitded picture of character, as
those who have had the best 0pportuni-
ty of knowing the original can testify. .
And we who shall most miss her use
fulness, and her friendship, will unite
in ascribing glory and honor to Him,
who by His gracious Spirit made her so
much TO resemble her blessed Saviour.
BLESSED are the dead which die in
the Lord from tenceforth: yea, saith
the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labors; and their works do fellow
thein.n
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