Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-17
THE FOREST FUNERAL,

I"E ToNESl IL y EtCAL.
You are to imagine deep. fcrny
forest; tall pines scaled by sunshine
and buried in emerald; the cool winds
dipping down through their branches
and little brooks that here and there
overflow their banks and ripple in
childish glee.
On road that winds through miles
of this unbroken forest scenery, on a
beautiful day in early summer, comes
"A solitary horseman. He has not rid
den out of one of James novels, as YOU
were going to exclaim, but has Just
left behind him the wide, old-tashioned
farmhouse where he was born. His
mothers kiss and fathers blessing are
fresh upon him. He was the youngest
and slightest of the boys at home and
no match for them either in labor or
spirit. His pale face and slight form
were often subject Of good-natured Jest
where Drawn and muscle counted for
so much. Though he tried to take his
share of the farm work he succeeded
but poorly.
He could not plow or SOW, or reap
Or daily tend the herd and swine,
His shepherd soul was Othcrwhcrc,
The tiOCks he tended were the birds
And stars that MI the folds of air.
From childhood he was dreamer
and heard voices, like Joan d Arc, call
ing him to the battle field. But the
warfare he was to wage was spiritual.
SO he rode out, not to a siege Of Or
leans, but the voice said. $50 ye into
all the world and preach the gospel"
The church sanctioned the call, SO he
went forth.
His ambition oyerleaped the little
things in his way. Ia dreams he had
brought multitudes Sr,bthe foot of the
cross; He was ,go4rom storm the
world We r, Il for r., Christ but fom Sas going to
er's life lay before eet froHe was to
live in the saddle, 70 nave no settled
home, to travel muddy roads and ford
swollen streams, his saddle-bags con-
tanning all his worldly goods. His COM
panions were to be the rude but kind
settlers, the latch strings of whose cab
ins always hung out for him.
This was the frontier life that lay be-
fore the young preacher who rode out
through the forest. He who was not
equal to do the work at home, was he
to do all this? Aye, and much more,
but he was to do it in Gods way. In
reaching after grand results he was not
to despise the day of small things. This
first sermon and its lesson were near at
hand.
He had Just reached turn in the
road and stopped to look back on the
glory OF the sunlight through the trees,
when he hears strange sounds. First
a low wall of grief, then shrek as of
despair. Mingled with this were the
deep-toncd voice Of man and the cries
of children. He listened for a moment,
then followed the sound around the
foot of the hill till he came full upon
the scene. In this opening. surrounded
by tall trees, was the strange group
the emigrants' wagon with all their
household goods. The horses, free
from the harness, were feeding on the
long grass. The COW, the foster moth
er of the family, but happily uncon-
scious of its grief, was browsing near.
Two barefooted children stood under
the branches of spreading oak, at the
foot of which was little new made
grave. Close beside il, very close,
rocking to and fro in an agony of grief
which she made no effort to control,
was sickly-looking woman holding in
her arms a dead baby. A stalwart
man in coarse clothes, brown with sun
and toll, was trying vainly in his rough,
kind way to comfort the stricken wo-
man, while the children cried convul-
siyely because their mother did.
The little dead thing with its pinch
ed and waxen face, which seemed light
ed with something like smile. was
beautiful as it lay in its last sleep. The
father had dug its grave. The mother
had adorned il for burial. A white
handkerchief was folded about its little
form and bunch of wild flowers lay
on its breast. Yes, death was the only
lovely thing in all that group.
The young minister who came upon
the scene unnoticed so absorbed were
they-was deeply touched. Dsmount-
ing and with uncovered head he drew
near and said: Friends. | am a min
ister OF the gospel. Can l help you in
any wayp'
MAY be it would comfort the old
woman if you would pray little. said
the man.
A prayer was said and few words
OF comfort spoken and the stranger
took the baby from its mothers arms
and placed it in its rude casket upon
its last couch.
The father took earth in his large
hands, placing it tenderly around the
little coffin, while the big tears found
their way down his brown cheeks.
During the burial the mother contin-
ued her sobs, still rocking herself to
and fro. When all was over" she lean
ed forward and seizng convulsively the
young preachers hand, she said: "Oh!
1t was God who sent you. We hain't
lived just as we ought to, but could
not bear to put 1t away without Chris
tian burial. 'Iis SO hard to 90 on and
! leave II alone in the forest"
You are leaving it with God" said
the preacher. you are moving to-
ward the sunset, but the little one will
meet you in the morning land"
While the evening shadows gathered
about them, he put forth his hands and
pronounced benediction, and with
fearful eyes turned away from the sad
group.
In the early mornin a. 4 ho ,pnvara u,ara