The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-03-22
IN NE ORlAW.
MolIie Murrell Biddle.

Once again death has snatchcd from life
one of its sweetest, purcst and brightest orna-
mcnts. The subject of this notice was the
elder daughter Of Dr. and Mrs. Y. &. Murrell,
and wife of Rev. ArthurC. Biddlc, Of Gibson
City, Illinois, where she died on the 10th inst,
after brief illness, in the oath year Of her
age. She was born, raised and educated in
Winchester, graduating at Mary Sharp Col
lege in both the literary and musical depart
ments. Early in life she became member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and
her devoted and consecratcd Christian life
was living evidence OF her strong faith, and
OF the truth of the religion sheprofessed. We
knew herin chilhood's happy time, and watch
cd her growth into pure, perfect and noble
womanhood. Modest and unassuming, she
had to be known well to comprehend and APP
preciate the pure gold of her noble character.
And those who knew her best loved her most.
Unmindful of self, her greatest pleasure was
to make others better and happier, ard thus
she lived and died. For number of years
she was the organist of her church here, and
her playing was bcautiful-her interludes the
sweetest We ever heard. Devoted to her Sun
day School and church, she allowed nothing
to come between her and her duty to them.
And if upon any single member their life de-
pended, during her connection with them. it
was she.
As child, sister and wife, she was all that
heart could wish.
And when in the golden autumn OF hcrown
bright South land, she left her happy home,
saldened by her vacant chair, it was to
make bright and cheerful that OF him whose
lows and sorrows she was to share. In her
new home she had made of strangers friends
and loved ones, and while it was in strange
land she looked ont upon life for the last
time, loving hearts watched over her and ten
der hands smoothcd her dying pillow.
| She has been brought back to the home o!
her childhood, and buried among the loved
ones of her old home. He who spoke the
words that made her the happy
bride, conducted the obsequics of her burial
And the groomsmen with tender care carried
her remains to their last resting place. The
day had been balmy, with interchanging srn
shine and shadow. The clouds would come
as il in sympathy with the crushing gloom il
her old home, and the sunshine as if to show
the Joy and brightness in Heaven for hel
presence there. The violets of spring tim'
were in their sweetest bloom, and the birds o
her sunny cline sang their sweetest songs, Al
if to soften all they could the sadness ant
deep sorrow which prevailed where she once
made all SO bright, cheerful and happy. I'll,
hundreds, comprising the young and the old
the rich and the poor, the high and the hum
BILE, and the white and the black, who cam
to look upon her sweet face for the last time
but slightly evinced the deep and afiectionat
esteem in which she was universally held TO
everybody loved Mollie. -.
What powerful influence this young lif
in its quiet way had wrought! The worl
was made better and happier by her life an
Heaven brighter by her death. What les
, son is here taught to every one for sweete
hopes, higher aims, and the glory there is i
christian death when it can be said, Ugh
hath done what she could"
: To the doting father, the affectionate moth
or, the loving sister and brother, and idolizin
husband, we extend the tenderest and deeE
s est sympathy. The vacant chair, the cherries
n fireside the desolate home of that devote
husband, no language can describe. And "
: know how hollow sound the words of sympi
|. thetic coincidence. For deaths bereavemeI
there is no antidotal surcease.
But Mollie is not dead-she only sleep
Our loss is her gain. Earth is poorer, an
b Heaven richer in the glory she viii add to Il
!. happy throng who will gather around the
God. As we leave her new-made grave, v
: say not farewell, for in some brighter elm
n we shall again hear her sweet voice bid
good morning. d. T. H.
E. Winchester, March 10th, 1882.