The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

Y Oh 81.
Tnnersotl,s EEoq,tence.

I
Col. Robert. 6. Ingersoll deliv-
cred the following Grafton over the
remaips Of Mary Fiske, an author
ess of note:
"Friends: In the presence of the
two great mysteries, life and death,
we are met to say above this still |
unconscious house of clay, a few
words of kindness, of roget, of love
and hope.
"In this presence let us speak of
the goodness, the charity, the gen
crosby and the genius Of the dead.
Only flowers should be laid upon
their tomb. In life's last pillow
there should be no thorns. Mary
Fiske was like herself. She pat
termed after none. She was a gen
Jus and put her solu in all she did
and wrote. she cared nothing for
roads, nothing for beaten paths,
nothing for the footsteps of others
she went a cross the fields and
through the woods and by winding
streams and down the wales and
over the crags wherever fancy led.
She wrote lines that leap with
laughter and words that were wet
with tears. She gave Us quaint
sayings and thoughts filed with the
pert and nimble spirit of mirth.'
Her pages were hecked with sun
shine and shadow. and in every
word were the pulse and breath of
life, Her heart went out to all the
wretched in This weary, world, and
yet she seemed as joyous as griefand
death were nought but words. She
wept where others wept, but in her
own misfortune found the food OF
hope. She cared for the tomorrow
of others, shut not for her own. She
lived for to-day.
"Some heart are like wayeless
pools, satisfied TO hold TIE image oil
a star, but hers was full of life
motion and storm. She longed fol-
freedom. Every limitation was 6
prisoners wall. Rules were shack
les, and forms were made for serls
and slaves. She gave her utmost
thought. She prased all generous
deeds. Applauded the struggling
and even those who failed. She
pitiod the poor, the forsaken, the
friendfess. No one would fall be-
low her pity, no one could wander
beyond the circumference of hoi
sympathy. To her there were M
outcasts-they were victims. Sh'
knew that the inhabitants of palaces
and penitentiaries might change
places without adding TO the injus-
tice Of the world. She knew tina,
circumstances and conditions de-
tornine character; that the loves
Of our race wero children once al
pure as light, whose cheeks dim.
pied with smiles beneath the heav
en- OF q mothers eyes. She though
OF the road they had travelled, o
the thorns that pierced their fee
Of the deserts they had crossed, ant
, so instead of scorn she gave the CO.
ger hand OF help. No one appealed
TO her in vain. She listened to To
story OF the poor and, oil she bat
she gave. A god could do no more
The destitute the struggling turnet
to her. The MANNED and hur
sought her door, and the helpless
put their hands in hers, Sh
shielded the weak and attacked th
strong. Her heart was open a
the gates Of day. She shed kind
ness as the sun sheds light. II al
her deeds were flowers the air woul
be faint with perfume. Ii all he
charities could chan &c to melodie
symphony would fill the sky.
"Mary Fiske had within her brai
the divine Ore called genius, an
her heart the touch of nature the
makes the whole world KIN.
"She wrote as q stream run
Winds and babbles through I'll
shadowy fields that falls in tn
foam of night and haste, and laugl
ing joins the sea.
~ little while ago a babe wa
found, one that had been abandone
10y the mother, left as a legacy I
chance or fate. The warm heal
of Mary Fiske, now cold in deaf
was touched She took the wal
held it lovingly to her breat an
made the child her own.
1--WE pray thee, Mother Natnr
that thou wilt take this women an
hold her as tenderly in thy arm
as she held and pressed again
her generous, throbbing heart I'll
abandoned babe. We seek Il
more.
In this presence let ia remem
Der our faults, our frailties, and I'll
generous, h5lplul selt-denyin(
doeds of Mary Fiskc,"