San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-13


.rhs ocean 10 the river ~ hIs thoughts"
: The two graud days of all tho year to him
were Christmas, and his fathers birthday. TX
them no looked regularly forward M the cul
mination OF his dearest hopes and anticip'-
tons ID tho way Of making always valuable
aud peculiarly appropriate gifts to his fa'
; ther. His gifts for last Christmas were a
6ne Mackinnon pen which cost -, (Which
In order TO surprise, he ordered from New
York under al assumed name-'John Henry
Irving " handsome writing desk, and 9th
or things, among which was n beautiful for
al card with tho following lines from Horace
Smith inscribed below, which, though proba-
bly, unanti,ipa.ed by him, have come to
have solemn significance
"Posthumou. glorie,i Angel like collection.
Uprai,ed from seed or bulb Inferred III earth,
Ye are to me type Of resurrection,
| A second birth"
He did not long survive the advent of this
ill-starrsd year of 1891. What seemed to
be some form of congestion, affected both
lungs and brain. He was sick two weeks,
yet was up some every day. and on the day
he died sat at the breakfast table, and even
went thence into au adjoining room unaided-
apparently as test of his consciously de.
clining strength.
In conclusion we wish to show how he was
appreciated by others. Rev. Mr.. Fisher,
who knew him ever since he came here, in
his remarks at his funeral spoke apprecia-
lively of his leadin, traits rs wa have ial:-
Gated them, a1d referred to the last entry in
his Diary, in which he exhibited his sense
of the kindness of a neighbor, and even ofs
the Old negro woman who was with him
the same heretofore referred to. An Indi-
ana friend, now resident of Dallas, who
came to Texas, little before We did, and
visited us in 1875, wrote as follows:
"When saw Claude six years ago, I
thought he was almost too spirStueike to be
long spared TO you. And what compnn-
ionship was his and yours! l feel that if
anything in this world could have recon-
pensed you in part for the loss of your dear
wife, and your separation from others of
your family, surrounded rs you were by
many incongruous and possibly unpleasant
things, it would be found in the love and as
ISOLATION which seemed SO close and init
mate between you two"
A lady, former resident of this place,
and who knew him well, writes thus of slit
tie Claude"
''He has 50 long been the object of your de-
voted attention and love, that his absence
will create an aching void which at times
will seem uncomfortable. y y
Els was life so fraught with bright prom
Use for the future, his mind of such intel
ectual vigor, his disposition SO sweet and
amia5le, that truly
"a None knew him bu. to love him.
Nor named him but TO praise"
Another writes:
"The gift of so innocent and pure a child
ought TO be u source of gratitude and hap
piness. That life of his, though 50 short,
was not n failure, ana its influence upon
yours while living. and now that he is gone,
cannot fail to be blessing to you"
So that we may well pause before ex-
claiming with the poet:
oh, why has worth so short date!
While villains ripen grey with timel"
And rather accept the philosophy of m
other in the following beautiful and i'm pres
sive lines:
we live in deeds. not years; in thoughts, NJ
breaihs;
In. feelings not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart throbl. lie most
who thinks most, feels the noblcst acts III hest.
And he whose heart beats quick est lives The longest
Lives in an hour more than in years do some"
And this with the Great Hereafter" and
its full spiritual development, based ON in
dividual progress here on earth, in reserve.
departed spirit! we will trust
That He who cs lied thee from the dust,
Hath summoned thee to welcome rest
n the bright mansions Of the blest
That the young powers Of thy mind
Are their expanded aud refined /;
That hopes bright promise early given,
Meets its accomplishment In heaven"
Yet still .'our human hearts" need the con-
ISOLATION contained in the following beautiful
lines:
"Alone unto our Fathers will
One thought hath reconciled;
That he whose love exceedetn ours
Hath taken home his child.
'Fod him. O Father in thine arms,
Aud let him hencefo.th be
messenger Of love between
Our human hearts and thee.
''Still let his mild reouking stand
Between us and the wrong.
And his dear memory serve to make
Our faith in Goodness s,rong.''
DRlNCES, whose cumbrous pride was all their
l. worth,
Shall vensl lays their pompous exit hsilt
And thou, sweet excellencei forsake the earth.
And not Muse in honest grief bewailt
Burns.