Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-06-13

You have stood there. Pcrchance- il
was but the other day, or it may have
been long years ago. Be the time long
OF short, it all comes back now-the
eloquence of the dead. You were a
SON. not always dutiful; and this is
mothers face, mSrble-white, cold and
still. A rush of feeling overwhelms
your soul. What has she not done and
borne for youp How affectiocately did
she lean on your arm, and look up into
your face! She will not do SO any
more. How anxiously she watched
over you In sickness, how quick her :
sympathy, and how loving her caress!
1t is all over now. Did you grieve her
sometimesP Ii Is too late to make
amends. But what would you not give
for just word nowP !.
Or you are a daughter, and it Is
father lying there so still. Your heart
is breaking, but he has no word OF COM
fort for you. The eye is closed and it
has no kindly glance of recognition.
The mouth is Shut forever; no cheerful
voice will again make your heart glad.
No fathers loving hand will ever again
rest on your head in gentle benediction.
He has left you, though you did all you
possibly could to ho,d him back. How
your bosom swells as you think of all
his care and love! His heart was bound
up in your we'll being, and It is a pleas
ant thought now that you ever tried to
do all that loving daughter could do
for loved father.
Or you are husband, and the faith--
full, devoted wife lies before yoW in the
speeches. eloquence of death; you
never knew how dear she was till now.
A choking sensation is in your throat!
Oh, how dear she was to you'll Can it
be that all is over, that she will not
nestle in your arms again? You call to
her, but she answers not to the endear-
ing epithets; nothing avails now. She
never treated you thus before. Or, per-
haps, YOU are wife, and he, to whom
you gave your hand and heart, lies still
before you. The staff is broken. You
have no strong arm to lean on. And,
as your little children come and ask
why papa will not speak to them, ter
rible realizing sense of the utter loneI-
ness of widowhood breaks on You.
Yes, the husband and father is gone.
These are few of the thoughts which
Death presses home upon us. And not
only does it speak of the past and awake
us 10 u SeHSe VI tilo pIcscLt, puo ~ 0OiiS
us of the future. To this end, we too,
must come. OF the busy, joyous multi
tudes on the street, not one but will
hear that dread voice and obey. The
gates of life are ever closing behind our
poor humanity. And the cold face be-
fore us speaks of that coming day. 1t
warns us of the frailty of lie, of the
weakness of the flesh, and of the GER
tainty of death. 1t points to the sea
and cries: There is an ebb tide"
For us the tides are coming in and
rising constantly. We are strong and
trust that strength win last But the
pale face lying there warns US of an
ebp tide. And when it comes and the
life-forces flow out, our battle will be
in vain. In conflict with the mortal,
Death conquers. But the silent face
points on to Eternity. And it holds
forth a ray Of hope. 1t speaks of Him
who conquered death, who led captiv-
ity captive. 1t pleads with us to lay
hold of Salvation, to follow Him who is
the Way, the Truth and the Life, that
we, too, may conquer death and gain a
blessed Immortality. - Golden Rule.