The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-11
Mourners in a Dilemma.

A hearse, the undertaken, and two wo-
men in carriage made up funeral
cortege that almost escaped notice as it
crept tollingly through the binding
snow-storm Of yesterday toward Glen
wood Cemetery. The hearse bore the
coffined remains of Elizabeth Townsend,
better known about town as Ollie Aston.
In the carriage that followed were two
friends of tile dead woman, who, upon
learning of her death. came over from
New York to see that she was given
Christian burial.
Owing to the life that Ollie Aston had
led they experienced considerable diff
Guilty in securing a minister to perform
the burial rites. Finally they sought
advice Of Lieut. Amiss, who accompa
MED them to Rev. Dr. Kent's house, $50
o street northwest, where they stated
their wishes to the kind hearted pastor
of the church that has no creed. He
readily consented to perform the funeral
services, but the question arose, where
could the service be performed? The
snow was coming down with binding
force, and it would be impossible to con
j duct the services at the cemetery. They
could not possibly get the use of any
church, and the hall in the Builders
Exchange, where Dr. Kent conducts his
| Sabbath services, was being used for an
| other purpose.
The doctor held hurried consultation
with his wife, and returning to bis wait
| ing visitors told them to bring the body
to his house and lie would conduct the
! funeral there. With fearful eyes the
women poured out their thanks and
/ blessings GA the good doctor and went
on their mission. In the mean time Mrs
Kent indited a note to a few of the i'm
/ ~, r ,at
less Girl had died, and that the body
would be brought to their house to re
ceiye the last sad rites. AT o'clock the
two women and the undertaken arrived
with the body, and a few of the neigh
bors gathered in Dr.. Kent's coZy little
parIors. The coffin was carried into the
house and the service was begun. After
reading the parable of the prodigal son,
and dwelling for a moment on he far
reaching love Of the Redeemer, the doc
tor read the simple burial ritual OF his
church, after which the little procession
resumed it's march. and the body was re-
moved to the receiving vault in Glen
wood Cemetery.
Although the dead woman had lived a
life of reproach, she was known for her
many charitable acts. After the Johns
town flood she contributed $100 for the
sufferers, and each winter she contribu-
ted from $25 to $50 from time to time to
be expended for the benefit of the poor
of the District. Several years ago a
near relative died, leaving a family Of
five small children, who have been edu
Gated al her expense. Her will directs
that her body be cremated, and it will
probably be taken to Washington, Pa,
at some future time for that purpose
Washington Post, Feb. 6.
How will it be when the grand assize
is paid with this erring woman, whose
heart, Notwithstanding her faults, was
moved by melting charity, and her palm
was ever ready to give aims to the suf-
fering and needy? Will it not be better
for her than for the tinseled butterflies
of fashion and the devotees of conven-
tionalties, who refused her the poor boon
/ of Christian burial? When the secrets
I of hearts are probed and exposed, it may
i be found that her open sin was far less
| fragrant than the concealed vices and
4 sensualities of those who f1aunt their
silks and satins before the world, and,
like the Publicans, offer their devotions
j on the street corners in loud voice, to
deceive and mislead We think the
chances will be far better for her who
clothed the naked and fed the hungry
than for the hardened neople who turned
from her corpse, and turned with scorn-
!. full sheer from the poor inanimate body,
without touch of human sympathy or
sign of Christian charity.