Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-05-26
ssMOssb;acks.''

For the NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
"They call us mOssbaCks" said my
friend as we neared the homestead. We
had travelled almost thirty miles into
the woods. For more than twenty-five
miles we had not seen dwelling house
of any description. In our journey we
had plOdded across broad, sandy plains.
jOlted over long, rough causeways, and
for few miles whirled rapidly along
a beautiful avenue called the "State
Road"
We were approaching the house of
Mr.. j. SandsOn in the township of Allis.
MY mission was sad one. l had come
to preach funeral sermon. Death had
entered this home and taken away the
eldest child girl of fifteen summers.
For several long months the light of
this young life had been slowly fading
away, until it had at last gone out and
left home in darkness.
The burial was to take place the next
day after IIarrived. A few miles back
Mr.. SandisOn had pointed out the Come
terry. 1t Is marked by small clearing,
on beautiful knoll at the side of the
state road. A dense and almost unbrOk-
en- forest stretches away for many miles,
in every direction. Surely no more APP
propriate or beautiful place could be
found in which to place the dust of
departed loved one.
The funeral occurred on the 10th of
May and it was perfect mid May-day.
Long before the appointed hour, Ox-teams
were seen slowly vending their way
along the woodland road bringing to
this house of mourning sympathizing
and tender-h' a"ted friends. Others
were coming on foot, some walking
many miles. One young woman who
had walked six miles through the woods
alone, brought a tribute of love in the
shape of carefully selected and beau
tifully arranged boquet of trailing arbu-
tus. 1t was to be placed on the casket,
as an emblem of the retired, half-hidden
but beautiful and fragrant life which
had passed away. o.
In the morning, as was returning
from long walk in the woods, l over
took a little BOY with a handful of wild
flowers; he knew that his sister was
fond of flowers, and he had gathered
these for her grave. / shall never for
get that boy with the wild flowers, as
saw him in the woods that morning.
At length, when all the friends had ar
rived, few comforting words of scrip
ture were read, and prayer offered.
Six young men, tender and true of heart,
and strong and brave of hand, then took
up the casket and carried it carefully
and tenderly along the rough, uneven
road to the school house, a distance of
little over mile, and here simple
service of sermon, song, and prayer was
conducted. From the school house
nearly one hundred people followed the
remains to the burial place; here with
appropriate services, we performed the
last sad Offices of love, then turned away.
leaving the dead alone in the silent
forest grave.
/ have seen the proud and great fol-
lowed with pOmp and splendOr to the
grave, but / never saw a funeral more
tenderly beautiful. or more truly Chris
tian than this burial of maiden in the
forest.
Call them "mOssbacks' if you will;
but remember that among these pioneers
are to be found some of the nOblest
heroes of the age. They have no use for
paint and padding; but they are not
wanting in principle and power. CT
They believe in home, and are not
afraid of honest work. In this they are
the conservators of the very germs Of
social and national prosperity.
Let us give these heroes of the woods
the honor that is due them. There is
very much of the real and the good in
life to be found in homes that are hum
BILE. Good living is quite as possible for
the pioneer in his cabin, as for the
prince in his nalace. 9il
Let us not be ashamed to recognize
our country cousins, "mOssbacks" though
they be, at least SO long as we raise
our hats at the very mention Of such
names as Webster, Lincoln, and Gar
field.
If the specimens which / have seen
are genuine, believe that the Beautiful
Peninsula" has as much reason to be
proud Of her "mossbacks" as she has of
her farms, her forests, or her mines.