The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1885-08-18

i q
Ely Sterling Shuford was born Aug.
ust 18th, 1861, and died at the residence
of his father near Brevard. April 22nd,
1852 On the fly leaf of his hymn book
was found written in his own hand.
sElzy S. Shuford was converted Decem-
Der 10Th, 1881, and joined the NJ. E.
Church, South, May, 1922 AS his
| friend and teacher, wish to eommem-
crate some of his most prominent char
acteristics as they have impressed me
during an acquaintance extending back
| through period of four years.
Prominent among the mental traits of
Mr.. Shuford, and perhaps those which
were most conspicuous, were earnestness
and fidelity. With him school life had a
purpose too important to be ignored, and
in proportion to his estimate of; the inn
portance of mental training was the
leaTnestness with which he pursued this
purpose. Every circumstance that could
contribute to his success was carefully
appreciated unless forbidden by honor,
while the many accidents which SO of
ten divert the mind from it's original de-
sign were neither allowed to impede the
earnestness with which he labored to
consumate his purpose, nor to embarrass
his efforts in its ultimate attainment.
Earnest in the pursuit of his studies,
he was likewise faithful in the perform
ance of every duty and in the observance
of every Obligation of friendship. If the
results of the recitation revealed to the
teacher earnestness with which, he had
pursued his studies and the fidelity with
which he had received and appropriated
every suggestion, the-social amenities of
the campus revealed in manner equally
striking the high esteem in which his
friendship was held by his classmates
and companions. With him there was
a sacredness in friendship which in
spired the same high and generous i'm
pulses of fidelity to its claims, as under
sterner development led to earnestness
and zeal in the discharge of duty.
Few, perhaps, could look on his face
without being impressed with the belief
that his was a nature too much given to
pensive reflection to derive much happi-
ness from the ordinary pleasures ofyouth,
and to his six companions acting as pail
bearers at his obsequies, who had often
observed the habitual calm of his tenn
per, uniformly mild and serene, and the
quiet reserve of his manner must have
come the reflection that he could extin-
guish self in Difference to others, and
that he could rise to the dignity of maxi
ing a real sacrifice for the happiness of
his friends.
We looked on that face
- As each took his place.
In silence around the bier,
We had come that day,
Our tribute to pay
In sorrow with tear.
Not a word was said,
As with measured tread,
They bore him to his grave,
They laid him to rest
As one who is blest,
In Christ alone to save.
From the book enthroned,
The preacher intoned:
10 dust thou must RETURN"
We knew that his word,
To that form referred,
Reposing in its urn.
For the soul had fown1
Where death is unknown,
To sun-bright climes of love-
We only could mourn
The link that was torn
From earth and placed above.
To the true and tried,
OF honor the pride,
We sighed our last good bye,
From his sleeping dust
Comes truer trust
To meet beyond the sky.
Then sadly away
At the close of day
We homeward drove along
In voices subdued
The past was reviewed
With chant Of sacred song.