The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-10

1
problem, the solution of which lay in tn,
indulgence OF false hopes. Conscience
furnished her the key and she grasped il
eagerly
Her charm was of the kind that en-
riches the everyday moments OF ex'
istence.
Her captivating faculties manifested
themselves best in her free, graceful con-
versation, full of mirth, which never de-
scended TO frivohties. Her mind WIS
exqulsiIely adapted to playing upon the
| finer parts of others, calling forth IN them
all that was delicate and best.
| Friendship was the most hourishing
plant in the garden of this mind, I'M
selfishness the soil that nourished il,
kindliness the dew which moistened it,
and its blossoms grew perenniaily. The
cultivation of this bloom gave
| to its possessor as much joy
as came TO those who participated
in the fragrance of its blossoms. And
how widely scattered were those bios
SONS; to rich and poor alike, as was at
tested by the humble who came to her
bedside.
In thinking OF her widespI cad influence
l am reminded OF LongIellow's verse:
al shot an arrow in the air,
II fell to earth know not where;
breathed a song into the air,
1t fell to earth, know not where:
Long, long afterwards in an oak
find the arrow still unbroke,
And the song from beginning to end,
/ found again in the heart of friend
wonder will she ever know all the
good she did, the sorrow she sOothed, the
dark places of earth that cleaned with
the light OF her cheerfulness.
Horace deemed friend so great bless
ing as to admit no comparison. Thus
tf,.I- 90
Because there was no fading OF the
dark locks into gray, no deepening of the
lines on the sweet face into burrows, it
was SO much harder to give her up. To
me il seems that the streams and trees
by whose banks and under whose shade
we wandered, have altered, that they too
mourn.
There is little episode, illustrating SO
well her Lille and nature that L am COM
PEELED to relate it here. The writer had
a ring within which was engraved the
motto, "Fortiter, fdiliter, .feIicter." TAX
ing the ring from my hand one day, Mrs.
Cook said:
sob, what an encouraging motto for
me TO live by Do, pray, let me wear it
awhile" gave her the ring, which she
wore some five months. During the last
illness she woke one night from u ievered
sleep and, extending her hand, said
''Do you know | have lost your ring? L
dropped IL just before | was taken sick,
and tried so hard, but could never find
it,"
/ trembled with an underlined fear
at the words. Could there be aught of
omen in them, questioned. Perhaps it
was that this life that she had guided by
my motto, "Brayely, faithfully, happily"
was about to go out.
Ii Is difficult to realize that she we
loved has gone from among us; that the
SiIN IL lOnSAn hp tFnlnnn
broken; that the dust has returned TO
earth as it was, ana the spirit TO God who
gave il.
Those who heard on her last day, when
material consciousness was gone, the
broken sentences calling on "Mama,"
+" My baby" aud "The HOLY City," will
never doubt that the spirit is now happy.
Mrs. Cook was not Jealous Christian as
eXemplihed by rigid observance of
church ceremonies. But the faith
was answering, the hope bright;
the idea of duty well-detned
and conseientiously adhered to.
Her conduct seemed modelled upon the
tenth commandment. Many were her
good works, and unostentatiOusly were
they performed. Tier lille went out swift
ly, hut there was no waning of faith
Sustained and soothed by an unfalter-
ing trust she approached her grave.
1t was in the early morning hours that
angels bore the soul away, and all the day
the elements seemed eOntending. Earth,
''in glorious sympathy with suns that SET"
shed her tears with friends; but as these
friends gave back to her bosom the dear
form, the clouds broke away and heaven
seemed all Joy ut a soul emancipated.
To me 1t appears that the broken column
is the fittest monument to mark her rest
ing place. Looking at it, one can but
wonder what the perfect whole wouldhave
been had the full complement OF years been
granted. Let no cross be craven on the
broken shaft. The cross has been, but
in Gods mercy that is over. The missing
apex may we'll be replaced with the |
crown that is now hers. At her feet let the |
acacia blossom, ever among the ancients |
symbolic of a glorious resurrection.
In the quiet days that followed her |
death, as L thought upon her pure, kindly, |
NOBLE traits, felt a broader grasp of the |
worlds truths. / saw as never before |
how the fate OF our friends is simply
forecast OF our own, and | deemed that |
from a contemplation of these things We |
must rise up stronger, better men and !
women,