The Osceola times., 1884-03-08
IN MORl.AM.
FRANCES FLETCHER.

Frances Fletcher, daughter OF tn,
late DIR. Eliot Hickman, Of Hickman
Bend, Ark, was born in the town OF
Franklin, Tenn, Aug. It'll, 1872.
In the year 1880, she WAS united in
marriage to Col. Elliot II. Fletcher,
and in 1897 came with her husband,
to the then wilds Of Arkansas, finally
settling in this county in 1910.
She had been in failing health du-
ring the last year Of fher life, and was
finally siezed with typhoid fever,
from which she suffered for nearly
two weeks; exhibiting through all.
the same calm, heroic fortitude which
had been through life, one OF her
Distinguishing traits Of character.
Through her illness, she was
constantly attended by her sister,
Miss Sarah Hickman, her children
and grandchildren, aud many kind,
faithful and devoted friends, who
seconded the efforts of hcr phvsicians
to keep her with us yc. litil. "hi,c,
but age, grief, sorrow, snd sichnc>,
had SO cmaciated her body, ihst nci-
thcr the Offices Of love. nor the skill
of physicians, could dclain her spirit
longer. She knew, a. she said her
self, that her time had come, aud
that she was on the bed uf dru,h. and
for many days, the obseNant eve
could see that peculiar symptom oi
mortality, in which We lose our own
face, and look like some Of our near
relations. Her face wus not her own.
but that of her father When at lasi.
her dying moment came, with gen
tie sigh of relief, the bitterness, 1r
death was passed, and she was gone.
So gently, so quietly did she enter
upon the light of the eternal morn
ing, that death seemed to have come
as friend to loose her, and let her go.
In her life, she had experienced
both extremes of happiness and grief,
of prosperity and adversely; and
though in the last years Of her life
in reduced circumstances, she was
never denied tho ordinary comforts
and convenicnces Of life. The loss
Of her two sons at the battle of Shiloh,
a blow which killed her husband.
was sustained by her with the supe-
rior fortitude Of her sex, in all the
silent majesty of grief; and from that
day to her death, she seemed to seek
relief in life of sclf-rcnunciation,
and to live for others. The sick
room found her a faithful attendant
with kind, gentle and attentive
spirit at the bedside Of the suffering.
In her case, at least, her womanly
tenderness would have realized tho
poets ideal, as many living will tcs-
tify. The writer has seen her at the
bedside ofpoor colorsd people, when
suffering the agonies of cholera in
the epidemic Of 1858, whom their
own race had abandoned
In deeds of love, mercy and hu-
manity, her simple faith found eA.
preston; and though she knew that
the woodsman, Death, had set his
broad arrow upon her, still, - often
as she emerged from the cloudy de-
lirium Of fever, and was HxRsyLp,
she was thoughtful and careful of
the health and rest of her loving at
tendants. She was buried last
Sunday, the End day of March, in
the midst Of the overflow, by the
side Of two Of her grandchildren,
whom she had helped to bury. The
day WAS dark, bleak and sombre, and
threatening rain; but as the last clods
Of earth were being thrown upon her.
the sun burst through the lcaden sky,
and flung his radiance upon the grave
and on those who stood around it.
True, this WAS but = coincidence; /;
but it was a symbol, which poets
like Young or Cowper, would have
loved to witness; and truly did it ex-
press her own steadfast belief, that
| If she was buried; in darkness, she
would be raised in light.
Mrs. Fletcher was a lady who ex-
hibited in her manners, the proof Of
her origin and early association. She
was high-brcd, high-spirited, and yet
so courteous and rcvcrent towards
all, that we knew her thoughts and
feelings all came from al humble
and christian heart. OF late, 1t was
plain that she knew, or had expert.
cnced silent monitions from the Tn
seen, that her prospects in this life
were closed, her mission ended, and
that she must prepare for the gath
cring in the Heavens. Or her exist
cncc in better state, she felt no