Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-04-16
IN Memoriam.

In Memoriam.
On Friday, April 8, 1891, il was
our sad duty to follow all that re-
manned on earth Of Mrs. Sarah 3.
Downing to her last resting place
in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Just ten
months before she was led to the
altar q bright. beautiful and happy
bride, and Miss Sarah E. Spratt
became Mrs. Benjamin II. Down
ing.
Life to her was full of bright and
Joyous anticipations. She had
much to live for. Her young hus-
bands love and devotion were thor
oughly reciprocated. A kind, ten-
der, loving nature like hers was
sure to win love in return. But her
married life was too bright and
happy for this woeful world. Those
few months seemed like one uninter-
rupted day of sunshine and glad
ness. But suddenly from the clear
sky came, as it were, a thunder
bolt. She was stricken and after
a few hours of pain and anguish,
which she bore with that patient
Christian spirit for which sne wac
known, she was called to her long
home. All that medical skill and
love and affection could do were
done, and when the time came for
her to 60 all felt that she was
ready. Mrs. Downing vas the
idol of her father; she was the
center of the worlds attraction to
him. She was an only child and
leaves her father, who is old and
feeble, strong in the hope of an
early union in yonder's world. A
fond father, a loving husband, and
stricken friends mingle their tears
together. She united with the
Christian Church in her fifteenth
year, and has ever been a faithful,
conscientious member. 1t was our
pleasure to have known her but a
short time, comparatively speaking,
yet among all our aoquaintances we
never met q more genial, kind and
noble nature than hers. She pos
sessed the happy faculty Of
winning friends and retaining
them. It seems. hard for us to
realize that one 30 young and SC
noble should be cut down SO early
in life, but the Good Book tells us
we are not to mourn as those with
out hope. Sister Downing has ex-
changed the ~sufferings and sorrows
of this life for a brighter and a bet
ter home. We sometimes wonder
why the fairest and brightest OIL
earth's flowers are taken from hap
ply homes and loving friends. But
we are reminded that Gods ways
are not our ways Although our
friend and sister in the Lord has
gone, and we shall see her no more
on earth, yet she has left us a bright
example of a noble Christian life,
the memories of which will not
soon be forgotten, and though we
may not hear her musical voice
again on earth, yet we know she
has joined the celestial choir above
land is s'safe in the arms of Jesus
Sarah E. Downing was born in
Audrain county, Mo-, November
III, 1868; was married to Benjamin
II. Downing, June 8, 1890. Bro.
Spratt, her father, was born in Indi.
ana and emigrated to Missouri in an
early day. Her mothers maiden
name was Amanda Stipp, and she
was born in Boone county Mo. Bro.
Spratt, with all Christian fortitude,
now waits patiently for the time to
come when he will be called tower
there to meet his loved ones who
have gone before.
The beautiful lines of the Poet
Halleck are eminently appropriate
in closing this tribute to our dear
young sister,
"None knew thee but to love the
None named thee but to praise"
M.