The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-01-16
A Fsllow-Kember's Tribute to DR.. Little.
STAn FARM 1 C HIM 10 1e,

~ Nj. stokes, EsQ.-DEAR SIR.-I en-
close you tribute to the memory Of the
late iamented DR.. Little, by Rev. r. j.
Taylor, written to the Baptist Courier. II
fitly, but very concisely po,trays the
christian character of the deceased, aud
showing a. ii does, the zeal he always mani
tested 10 attending to his religious duties,
and the great esteem in which he was held
by the community in which he lived, and
express ng how sadly he will be missed by
the young, the old, the white and colored
and coming from creditable eource, and
fsom one who was so intimately conuec, ed
with him, thought no better memen,o
could be hid upon the altar of sacred nffec.
tion and love, and therefore ask you to in
sert 1t in your paper.
Mr.. Editor, when We see the youth, before
he has arrived at the age of discretion. or
e'ev he has made q mark on tho sands of
time, or when we behold the aged who per-
haps has reached his three score and ten,
| after he has enjoyed all the pleasures of ife
| and lived to see the work Of his hands
prosper ard to see his generation pass away,
die and g. the ''way off all the ear,h," our
hearts are saddened, and we turn ourselves
| about and say it is bat natural, and we ac-
cept the truth, rs matter of course; but
when we SEQ such men as DIR. Robert Little
| taken from us so suddenly, and in the very
prime Of his manhood, just in the full en-
| joymeut of his usefulness to hi, fcllow-men.
our philosophy is put to the test and we
can see why or how it is so. But we are
reminded that q great and omu potent God is
in II al and, as earthly creatures. We are
not alloMad In ananira h.-i i,t-er-Hu uucsr
Thou this? Uoder these circumstances. it
becomes us as intelligent beings, to accept
the fat Of the Great Almighty. and try TO
draw some lessons of usefulness and hope
| from the life Of the deceased that will hcne-
fit US In this life and fit for the better life.
Our first lesson, then, is that the deceased
was honest. In being honest we must do unto
others what we would that they do unto us.
He did this ecery time Our second lesson is,
he was Industrious, making his bread by
the sweat of his brow; not slothful, but fe--
vent. Our third lesson is, he was liberal
always distributing to the necessities Of
those around him--rejoiciug with those who
/ rejoice, and weeping with those who weep.
Our last lesson is, he was a Christian-ren-
dering unto God the ihings that are Gods
and to Cesar the things that arc Cmsar's.
Aud as some one has said, can honest man
is the noblest work of God," so it was made
manifest in the makeup of DR.. Little that
God bad tried his hand in bringing forth one
of his Noblemen.
But, Mr.. Editor, desire to speak briefly
Of his character as n public servant Of his
people. feel it my duty 10 his constituents
who 80 sadly mourn his loss to say that they
placed him iu n position he did not seek.
Only one incentive prompted him to accept
office at the hands of his people, that was his
lore for his native County, and strong de-
sire to be Of some use, in his day and gen.
Grafton, in helping to bring about such need
ed reforms in our system of government as
ne thought desirable. Often have heard
him say he WAS no law-maker; that he was
in the wrong place; but the voice Of his fcl-
low-men called him, and by the help Of God
he would be found at the post Of duty. And
so 1t was. DR.. Little did not fail TO be at his
post, TN ! tho Journal of the House will show
that he only missed one roll CALI that was
on Tuesday morning, the 23d December, tho
day he left Columbia never to return.
He WAS faithful, he was watchful, he was
thoughtful; always considering the welfare
of his State and fellow citizens. as paramount
10 his own. Thus he lost his life. Had he
been more thoughtful of self, he might have
been spared longer The effects of the close
heated air in the State House, during a very
trying session Of both day aud night dura-
tion, and sudden exposure TO the bleak wind
" rs st ehs
| moro than an ordinarily weakly man could
stand, and his constitution, which was natu-
rally weakly, bad TO succomh, and the fell
destroyer of the peace and comfort of so
many carr its victim to his list resting
place, premature'y, and TO the dismay Of al.
who knew him.
DR.. Little was sick for two weeks with
severe cold. On Monday night, 22d Dec,
| at 10 clock, lie took n severe chill, and
left the State House for the first time. The
Session adjourned at n few minutes to IL
o'clock at night and when / arrived at our
room found The DR.. in high state of de-
| lirious excitement with high fever, and very
sick OF heart. asked him what must do
He .aid, "tell DR.. Strait, Senator from
Lancaster, to come up to see re" DR..
Strait did not come in from the Senate cham
Der until next morning; but when he did
come he examined the DR.. very closely in
presence of Senator Peske aud myself, and
said he could see no signs of Pneumonia
about him, and wrote prescription for me
to 60 to n Drug store and have filled for
him. | sugg gested to the DIR. to advise DIR.
| Little to go home. He said, as the Session
was now about TO close-only one more day
remained--he would consent. l forthwith
set about getting reado for the train. The
Dr. Was very feeble, and feared he could
not stand the trip; but put him on the
car, and placed him in the care of Mr. Bowen,
young man from Pckens County, who was
on his way home from attending Medical
lectures al Charles on, who promised 10 care
for him until he arrived at Union.
Little did / lhiuk that would never see
him again when 1 shook his hand at the
depot in Columbia. The last word he ever
spoke to me was "good bye, l think can get
home." And 50 it is. He is at home, after
a life we'll spen, in service for his folowmen
and his God
l claim he was my friend, and l enjoyed
the last kindness aud friendship he was en-
abled TO dispense on this earth.
Let us emulate his example and let our
lives end as his did, aud we shall receive o
"crown"
| Mr.. Editor, lay this as a tribute to his
memory and in doing so feel that have dis
charged duty, though imperfectly, yet with
n true devotion 10 affection, and with
longing desire to b neft some one, and af-
ford q small degree of comfort to some Of his
afflicted and bereayed family. Let us join
| our sympathies in extending to the borrowed
whatever of comfort we can in this life, and
| let US point to the life OF the deceased as one