Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-09-06
IRONTON. MO, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER g. 1888

netian sky, he held up his hands, and, amid
sobs and tears, kept repeating, ''There, oh
there is my Minnie! I must 60, must go!''
Then he calmed moment, gaZed steadily
into the sky, clasped his hands, sweet and
radiant smile lighting up his tear -dedewed
face, and exclaimed: ''There, too, is my 9th
er, my OTHER, long-los Minnie, Little Min
ME and mother!" He sank on his pillow,
still gazing up, with his hands clasped, and
repeated the last verse of "Minnie Belief
"Oh, in the starry land,
A star thou'lt shine for me,
And beckon with thy hand;
I'll fee away to thee!'
He closed his eyes, and breathed calmly. In
few minutes he began to whisper hymn,
and repeated only the words:
"Jesus, savior of my SOUL"
And he was dead. His agonized spirit went
out to meet Minnie and her mother-..just
over there"
I wanted to see you to tell you this.
came here TO find and mark the spot where
Minnie" was killed, and intended to go and
see you on my return East. But now that
you are SO near, can you not come up and
help me? Pray do come at once. 1t was
DR.. DeLancey's request that ! should do this,
and also zee you and give you his last thanks.
/ await you with anxiety.
Most sincerely and truly yours,
CHARLES FRANCIS WAGNER.
Need I say that I WAS intensely
shocked at the perusal of this letter.
The letter and miniature from Venice,
last March, never reached me.
I at once went up to Prof. Wagner,
whom 1 found to be q Boston gentle
man, and an old friend of DR.. DeLan-
cey, whom he accidentally met last
winter in Venice.
The hours spent by me in walking
over the places made sacred to me by
the presence Of little Minimize just
preceding her death, were full of sad
and melancholy interest.
There was the wild fiower-garden
glen where I first beheld little min
ME, "as the little beauty lightly sprang
into the stage coach, covered with
bright flowers which her little hands
had gathered and adjusted on her hat
and dress.
There, the rock under the pines
where she would climb on my knees
and, with arms around my neck, war
bic her even-song, or chant a Htany;
then, almost smotbering me with kiss
es, would run away TO her nights re-
pose, only to be joyously singing again
under the pines as the early sun-rays
flashed over mountain peaks and light
ed up fir and aspen.
There the spot where she clung to
my arms, with sobs ss we last parted,
and I sprang into the carriage and roll
ed away-sad parting-never more to
meet.
Shall I, amid such sad surroundings, |
stop and console myself with philoso- |
ply? Can it assert itself as safe con- |
soler to q erief-stricken heart? Is it |
helpful to assert that our strength |
grows out Of our weakness? Shall We
reflect that the sorrow which arms it. |
self with secret forces, must prick and |
sting and sorely assail US? to be tru-
ly great is to triumph through it and |
over it? If we sit on the cushion of
ease, Of unvexed cornpesure, we go to
sleep? The soul that knows no sorrow |
will have poor capacity to ever enjoy |
great happiness?
But, Ah, me; If but
Minnie" were here with her angelic |
faith, with her little prayers and YES
per-song, all philosophy would dis
solve in their sublime and radiant |
warmth. EMERSON.