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

You have stood there. Perchance IL y
was but the other day, or it may have
been long years ago. Be the time long
or short, it all comes back now-the
eloquencc of the dead. You were
son, not always dutiful; and this is
mothers face, marble-white, cold and
still. A rush of feeling overwhelms
your soul What has she not done and
borne for your How affectionately did
she lean on your arm, and look up into
your facet 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
sometimes? It 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 father loving hand will ever again
rest on your head in gentle benediction.
He has left you, though you did all YOU
possibly could to hold him back. How
your bosom swells as you think of all
his care and love! His heart was bound
up in your well-being, and 1t is 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 you in the
speechless 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! Can it
be that all is over, that she will not
nestle in your arms againp You call to
her, but she answers not to the endear-
ing epithets; nothing awaits now. She
never treated you thus before. Or, pea
haps, you are wife, and he, to whom
you gave your hand and heart, lies still
before you. The staff is broken. Yon
have no strong arm to lean on. And,
as your little children come and ask
why papa will not speak to them, q ter
rible realizing sense of the utter loneli-
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 to a-sense of the present, but 1t tells
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. IL
warns us of the frailty of lie, of tho
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 will 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 DO
in vain. In conflict with the mortal,
Death conquers. But the silent face
points on to Eternity. And it holds
forth ray of hope. 1t speaks of Him
who conquered death, who led captfy-
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
blessed Immortality Golden RuIe.