The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-09-18
Funeral Address or Mrs. Henry
Wilson.
BY W. G. RuRSs.

THIS LOur saying III solemn tones ''De We also
ready, for in such an hour as We think not
the Son Of Man cometh.' The astronomer
can tell you when any star shall cross this
meridian year hence; the merest child can
affirm with a certainty, that in q month OF
two more the trees will be bare OF leaves and
the earth covered with snow. The student
of geometry can demonstrate beyond a ,;oaSt
that any side OF triangle is less than the
sum OF the other two. But not 50 with
reference TO life, its duration and posses
sions. Here all is uncertain. Yesterday
bank stocks or broad acres were ours: to-day
sudden turn in the tide of events has
swept them from our grasp. Yesterday the
eye sparkled, the pulse thrilled, and the
voice charmed with the melody; to-day the
eve ~ dim. the pulse still and the voice silent.
Yesterday friends cheered US with their COM
panionship, sympathy and inspiring words;
to day they are gone from Us. We call them,
but they answer not, for between that yester-
day and this to-day the wave of life has come
and gone. Did we know when these mis-
fortunes would touch us then would We be
prepared. But no messenger warns of i'm
pending danger. Unannounced and unex-
pectedly the avalanche brushes, the pesti-
lence scourges, the wave engulfs or the fire
consumes. Only few brief months ago an
y. L. Conway and a Chandler Richards were
suddenly stricken down. Only morning
ago the angel of death entered this home
circle and laid his sable mantle over the
shoulders of wife, mother and neighbor.
No warning signal was seen nor voice heard
announcing the approach of the enemy.
Stealthily and quickly us the savage springs
from his ambush, did death lay hold upon
this loved one, with flush OF health upon the
brow and the heart buoyant with the antici-
patton of pleasant trip northward. Death
was thought of as belonging to the far off
future. But alas in the midst of life we are
in the midst of death. We plan but DO not
execute; we hope but DO rot realize. At
morn we enter upon our daily work with
feeling Of strength and power, but ere the
eyentide comes We are cut down and with
cred like new mown grass. Well hath it
been said
1.-The evening cioCd, the morning dew,
The whitening grass the fading flower
Of earthly hopes are rlnblelns true
The glory OF passing hour.
50 promptly was the message delivered
and 50 swift the flight of death arrow, that
no time was given in which TO say good
bye" and God bless YOU Pleasing III
deed rs 1t would have been to you who re-
main could it have been SO, yet no last words
were needgul, for i'll all the earnest years of
her life she had spoken as one who had stood
near 10 the mysteries Of the eternal world.
Her last hours were not filled with suffer
ing, nor disturbed by any sad mourning over
the past, or anxious doubt of what awaited
her behind the veil. She fell asleep as quiet
~ and gently as does the infant upon its
mothers breast Death tor her was simply
a sunset without clouds. Not yet do you,
who knew her best and loved her most, fully
realize that she has gone nevernore to re-
turn. For forty years she was with you III
the relation OF wife, mother and friend.
Being with you 50 long and so intimately
you thought not that she would never leaye
YOU. In an hour, however, when you were
least prepared and when you least expected
it. the Master came and called her away"
And now for her, earth's pilgrimage is
ended and the land of many mansions en-
tered. Not through glass darby, but
face to face she now behold5 her Savior
and the loved ones OF earlier days. To you
who remain this separation brings sorrow:
so her JOY. To you il is the loss OF wife,
mother and sister; 10 her il is an eternal
gain. While here she had no abiding city;
now she stands we trust, within the gates of
that city whose foundations are eternal"
and whose builder and maker is God"
there she Is ~ rest in the presence of her
God. The body is dead but the spirit, with
all it's powers has risen into new life and
beauty. The silver cord has only been
changed into golden one, the corruptible
into the iucoruptible, and the mortal into
the immortal.
As We offer our last tribute Of respect and
love 10 her whose life is now complete and
whose work IS done. we can also rightly es-
innate its worth and influence. We could
not have done SO before. for as the colors in
frescoing when first laid on disappear and
leave no trace behind them, but by and by
reappear in beauty, So the daily coioring and
building of life sinks out OF view, and il is
not until death removes the limitations OF
disease and sense that its loneliness, SYM
metry, and nobleness, is fully revealed. With
this life, then, before Us III its completeness
we cannot but affirm that it was singularly
beautiful and noble. Esteeming duty an
angel walking reyerently by her side, believ-
ing that the best part OF human character is
a tenderness and delicacy of feeling in little
matters; holding that every day brings to our
hand the possibility of kingly service, and
knowing that death is simply key which
unlocks the portals of peace, sister Wilson
was undemonstrative in her department, and
III lLe Vi Hlss As Il
wife she ever proved herself a wise coun-
selor, n faithful co-laborer, and loving COM
panion. AS a mother she was patient, kind
and thoughtful, ever seeking to train the
children given, in paths of truth and right
eousuess. AS a friend many of you have
known her these forty years and found her
true and Interchangeable; the same in the days
of prosperity and affection as in the days of
pioneer hardship and danger. AS a chris
tian she was not perfect-no one is-but she
was humble and trustful. The great depths
of religion she never sought TO fathom, but
trustfuliy as little child she laid hold of the
one essential truth, that the blood of Christ
cleanseth from ell sin.
To-day the heart bleeds, the eye weeps
and voice quivers because of these relations
so rudely and quickly broken. But mourn
not, oh bereaved, for He who was made per-
feet through suffering, tenderly whispers to
the listening ear the wondrous words: Il
will not leave you corafortless, and since
am the resurrection and the life, he that be
lieveth in me shall never die" Then let not
your heart be troubled. This separation is
only till 'earth's little while is passed." then,
If obedient children of your Heavenly Father,
n DIorious re1rior md afarpitv Of allou,