The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-05-28

Kindly Words of the Late MT. william
O'DelI

Kindly Words of the Late MT. william
O'Dell
A friend and neighbor of the late Mr..
William O'Dell, of Hood River, who had
known him long and intimately, bears
the following testimony to his character
and worth:
One rare grace he had which was to
his character what its perfume is to the
rose; this was his affection for his fami-
ly. From the time % years ago, when
he took the hand of his girl-bride in his
until the hour when he called her to him
and said, 81 am as dead from my waist
down as 1 shall ever be-" if the wind
blew roughly on Mrs. O'Dell, it was be-
cause he could not help it. As few men
ever do he cherished his wife and when
he could no longer work for her he spar
ed her all he could. Mrs. O'Dell's loss
would be unbearable but for this; by pre-
cept and example he trained five manly,
christian sons to give to mother and sis
ters just the care he gave.
In his outward relations to be apprised
of need, whether a personal friend or
not, was with him to supply that need
if possible. His home was open to all
humanity to share such as he had.
How many dying beds he has soothed.
So when he was brought home helpless
and lay three weeks between life and
death, there was no lack of men to work
all day and watch as tenderly as women
by his bed all night. His grateful words
for his ''faithful Watchers was ample
recompense.
Mr.. Odell's Christian light was
kindled at a Methodist camp fire in
California more than 80 years ago and
though dim at times never went out.
For seven years since his baptism he has
lived a devoted life, testifying for Christ
at every opportunity. About one and
half years ago he was elected elder in
East Hood River church because he
thoroughly fulfilled the requirements of
lst Timothy 81 to z.
As he lay at Dufur able to move one
hand, to those who came to see him,
rough men and Christians, he testified
of the grace of God as no minister could
have done. That was his Beulah land
and the Delecteble Mountains from
whence this t'Happiest Man" saw Heav-
en- and made others see it too. There
love contrived a way to bring him home.
There for three days Deaths River threw
him up above it's pillows and dashed him
down again until his heart and his flesh
failed him but still his anchor "held
within the vail ~ for it grappled the
Crock of Ages
So his eldest son or some christian
friend would repeat a verse of the Word
or breathe a prayer and then he would
lie at ease.
So for week and then he got clear
vision of the glory and as it says in the
Pilgrims Progress, &c After that the en-
emy was as still as stone until he was
gone over" In that last week he tried
to sing 'tIn the cross glory" And
when they asked him "why,'' he said
have seen the most beautiful garden
ever I saw and never was so happy in
my life,' so as he had foretold them &c 1
shall just go to Sleep" and peacefully he
went that ere one watcher could scarce
say to another 60 he is going" Lol he
was gone.
Gone! Out of the body that had the
cancer, out of the body that was paraly-
zed, starved and tired to death, his last
wish granted, "Gone home'' to be with
the Lord. Evil things" all past and
he is g comforted," and now is come
true. Rev. 2:7. s. S.