The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-04-14
The End of a Noble Young NJ an,

The End of Noble Young Man.
Pamela Star.
On Tuesday morning last at half past
two o'clock, in the still hours, and amid
the lingering shades of the night, the
end came and Rufus Childress Ballen-
tine was delivered from his sufferings-
which he had borne with q patience and
fortitude that would have been remark
able even in much older man, and one
Injured to hardship. Up to Sunday
evening all the symptoms had been ia
Vorable, and the sufferer was cheerful
and pleasant during the whole day, but,
as the shadows of night began to gather,
an unfavorable change occurred, and
his stomach refused to perform its func-
tions, or to retain nourishment. This
irritability continued through the night
and the following day, while the sup
puration from his wounds became, per-
haps, more abundant than it had been.
He was fully sensible of his condition,
and of the impending crisis, and con-
versed on the subject with those who
clustered lovingly around his dying bed
as freely as his waning strength would
permit, showing no symptom of alarm
or uneasiness. He continued to sink
during the day and evening, and when
night came it was Enthusiastically evil
dent to all that the end was near, and
few more hours would bring the clos
ing scene. He never lost consciousness
for moment, and told his father that
his prayers had been answered and God
had spoken sweet peace to his soul, and
that now, his only desire for life was,
that he might be an example to others,
and do some good, which he believed he
could do if it pleased God to let him live
nevertheless, he was ready to die. He
asked for the singing of several sacred
songs, among them, ASLEEP in Jesus"
and Nearer My God to Thee," and, re-
questing his father to raise him up,
| Joined in the singing of the latter as
| long as his strength would permit, and
| this about an hour before he died. lie
then asked his father to have prayers,
and it was done according to his re-
quest. After this he conVersed but
| little, yet evinced no evidence of suffer-
| ing and recognized those around him,
| and his utterances were intelligent to
/ the last. Previous to the singing the
clock struck twelve. Turning to his
| father he asked: "Father, how many
did that striker" His father told him,
and he remarked, "well, l don't reckon
I'll ever see another daylight" and just
one hour and a half later his spirit pass
ed away as calmly as the slumber of in
fancy, or the breath OF a zephyr, to
"Ths bosom of his father and his God"
Rufus was born in this county near
| Sardis, on the 9th of July, 1858, and
was within tour months of being twen-
ty three years of age at the time of his
death. Except when abroad at school,
! the most of his life, and the whole of
his young manhood, was spent right
here in Sardis, where he was universal
| ly regarded as young man OF noble
| impulses, amiable disposition, bright
mind, high-toned principles and accom-
plished manners. These things are not
| said about him now as poSt-norteDa COM
| pliments nor to soothe the pangs of sor-
| row they have been said land reiterated
| again and again, when the bloom OF
health flushed his cheeks and the light
of intelligence beamed in his eyes, and
the softly spoken words of sympathy
and sorrow, the glystening tear-drops
and the universal gloom, which was
| everywhere seen and heard on the
morning after the distressing accident
which has resulted so fatally told, plain
er than words can tell now, how warm
a place he held in the affections of all.
And now, it is, alas too apparent that
an aching void is felt in the community,
and a wound inflicted which time only
can heal. But, in the midst of the
| gloom and sorrow, there is soft, sweet
ray of light, in the reflection that his
last days and hours were spent devo-
tionally, and in the pleasing assurance
which he lett US, that all is well with
him, and that he has gone-as he had
told his father he would-to meet his
sainted mother, where we, too, may join
him to part no more forever.
He was buried in Rose Hill cemetery
| by Rev. j. ID. Cameron on "Wednesday
afternoon, assisted by Revs. Il. III. Gro
zier and G. n. Terry, after appropriat te
opening remarks and reading by the
second, prayer by the third, an impress
sive discourse by the first, and the sing
ing by the choir of "We Shall Sleep, but
not Forever" all in the Methodist
church, which the ladies had previously
draped in mourning. The casket con-
tanning his mortal remains WAS literally
covered with beautiful floral offerings
from ladies In Sardis and from Mem
phis.
All business was suspended and every
house closed, and the entire communi-
ty, with a number of relatives and
friends from abroad, testified their sor-
row and affection by following the re-
mains to their last resting place.
Farewell, dear Rufus, till we
g. meet beyond the river
Where the surges cease TO ROLL"