The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-10
A Husbands Tribute
AT THE GRAVE OF MS DEAD WIFE.

The following beautiful eulogy was read
by j. Hamilton Sutton, Of Marshall, Ills,
at the funeral Of his wife, last week:
"FRIENDs-What may say may be be-
yond the pale of cold formality and rigid
ceremonial, but this plead. In happier
times | often promised yonder dead, that
were she called first, would offer such
humble tribute to her memory as seemed
to me best. To redeem that pledge, now
douby sacred, these words are said. Not
empty and unmeaning words in studied
eulogy, but the simple prompting of a sad
dened heart what the tongue should speak.
II knew her best of all the world beside.
Knew her in the cloudless days, when her
life was song Of joy-a poem of happi-
ness. Knew her as blushing bride, q
faithful and loving wife. happy mother
a dimpled babe her Growing bliss. Knew
her in her starless night of grief when the
babe lay dead. Knew her affectiOnate as
a sister, pure and noble as woman. Knew
her brave AID tender in suffering, gentle
in counsel, the light and glory of home,
now desolate. She was queen, and home
her kingdom. Beyond its lowly portals
she never sought to sway-but within ite
sacred borders she ever ruled by the
matches witchery of gentleness and love.
THE sad appeals of want awoke her In
finite pity, while the plaintive cry of suf-
fering moved her to tears. She held it
sacred duty of her life to give and to do
that Others might be blessed. And if but
one word were said for every kindly act
she did, the leaves of yonder holy book
would be but small compared. Her life
Was humble, but gemmed with virtues.
''She loved the beautiful in nature,
rather than in art. And the woods, the
book, the bending sky, the budding
flowers, the songs of birds were her de-
light. Through them, and as innocent as
they. she worshipped natures God, and
believed in happiness in world beyond
the stars.
In her, practice and profession were
sweetly blended, sweetly consistent. Her
whole life was sunny reflex of her relig-
ion-and that religion was to love God and
keep his commandments. This is the per-
feet measure of all Christian worth and
excellence. True piety, that rarest Jewel
of holy life, In this begins, in this ends.
Il know not if there be another life-I
know not If we shall again exist. Omnip-
offence has fixed the grave as the narrow
limit of our mortal ken, and beyond is the
mighty mystery eternal, that mocks alike
the wisdom Of the sage and the ignorance
of the savage. The mystery of the mys-
teries never to be solved on the shores of
time. The witless fool can grasp the i'm
penetrable problem of an after life as well.
can pierce futurity as far as the profound
est thinker of most authentic creed. For
me only know that cannot know what
the future holds. can but wait and hope.
But this fervently believe: If death be
the end If it be the common destiny of
all as good and gentle as she who yonder
lies to perish into nothingness-toc rumble
into senseless dust if no reward there is
for goodness here on earth, then indeed
is life hollow mockery-not worth the
living. But if the night of death is some
where else dawn if yon last sleep is but
a sweet awakening in endless joy if there
be another life, such as pictured in the
glowing imagery of her simple faith, then
she is truly there. And when I too have
crossed the sunless valley of the shadow
of death, ask no sweeter haven than to
see and know yon silent dead, and other
loved ones gone before. ct it does seem
cruel that one yet in the morning Of her
life, and who 10Dged SO much to do, should
be thus called. But we must not question
nor rebel. For in the province of God
there are no accidents and no wrongs, and
death, for ought we know, is kindness.
For her dear sake, and for the sake of all
the countless dead may this be true For
her dear sake I hope that
"'Llfe and death with God are one;
Unchanged by seeming change. His care
And love are round us here and there;
He breaks no thread His hands have made
But tbs hard to part, and standing in
the rayless gloom of bitter anguish and Ct
NNesAD, w StsAA w Viz AOfCQ anu IOOh IL jill
is well 2 But the grave is voiceless and
gives back no answer to our wailing CRY.
But to my listening ear of hope there
seems to come from far beyond, 1 know
not WHEREVER raptur JUS reply, in tones
not born of earth Yes all is well all is
well!
"But if this sweet hope be but play Of
fancy, she is at least at perfect rest, for
ever free from pain. God s finger touched
her and she sleeps And the future,
whatever it is, all will be well with her.
ITO you, dear friends, 1 now consign
her sacred dust-I can say no more.n
If you can't Bear" a cough, ''Bull" it
with DR.. ull's Cough Syrup.