The Republican journal., 1885-11-19
In Northumberland Hook.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Having lust
received the sad news of the death of Herbert
HOOK, of Searsmont cannot refrain from sending
you few lines upon an event which has cast deep
gloom over the entire community. young man
OF rare Intelligence and the most exemplary char.
acter his genial presence will be sadly missed by
the host of friends who are left to mourn his M
timely loss. 1t is said that death loves shining
mark; and rarely has his fatal shaft penetrated the
heart of one whose early years gave promise of a
more brilliant future. AS scholar he was ac-
knowledged to be one of the finest in our county.
having graduated with high honors from the Semi
nary at Bucksport, an institution of learning to
which he always referred in terms of affection and
pride. Sineularly free from every vice. studious
in habit and winning In address, his death will
cause pang of grief to his former classmates who
are now scattered throughout State. Upon
those of us who were more intimate in our ac-
quaintance and friendship, the blow has fallen with
still deeper force. Living by his side for years,
and closely o5servant of his developing genius and
intellect, am confident that had he been spared to
fulfil the lot Of man his name would have shone
high in the temple of fame. Throughout his long ILL.,
ness and severe suffering no complaining word was
ever known to pass his lips. Conscious of his APP
preaching dissolution, he looked forward with calm
resignation to the time when he should enter that
bourne from which traveller ever returns. II
his life and character beautiful--his death was
sublime. Surrounded 10y his mourning friends and
grief stricken parents, the last few hours his
most peaceful! and happy on earth.
THEY watched his breathing through the night
His breathing soft and low,
A through his breast the wave of life,
kepk heaving to and fro"
When heAwarm rays of the morning sun came
streaming into his room-while the lauguid wing of
the angel of death was lowering above his dying
bed-when its icy finger had already touched his
marble brow, he looked up to the physician stand
ing by his side, and smilingly said: Doctor, am
almost through" With the last word still nnger
lug upon his palltl lips the patient painless spirit
htd taken its hight across the dark river and had
already touched its farther shore. Although his
sun went downlon9 ere it had reached its meridian
height, il sank to rise again amid the prophetic
splendor of an eternal dawn. Age after age may
roll slowly by; storms and tempcsts may htrl
themselves against the structures Of human genius;
men may come and go in flcetiug generations; sea
sons may fly like hours through the whiriug wheels
Of time, but the example Of such bright young
lives viii ever remain, rearing itself amid regal
ruins ana political dissolutions to teach men thai
death has no ttrrors for the brave and TO rob the
grave of it, solemn victory. Farewell dear friend
"a long farewell Although the angel OF death has
thrown his dark shroud around thee and thine, thy
genial spirit and gentle ways are deeply engraven
upon memory's Page, and can never, never lie.
Respectfully, L. Q. BATEMAN.
Charlton, NJ s., NOV. II, lSs5