Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-07-26
In Memoriam.
cg,p1rs HoKE BALrzELL RoUss.

ate from Time to Eternity. Inheriting
anne that has become immortal in the an
lals of Commerce genius that is as bril-
liant as it is phenomenal a character lofty
n its attributes of energy, skill, daring IN
egrity. spotless honor and world-famed sue
.ess a tenderness of heart that gives OF It's
oval bounty with a royal generosity
nome sweet and beautiful in its domestic
races a business habitation palatial IN Its
ize and splendor; a sphere Of usefulness
10 other has ever filled fortune kingly IN
rs value; record that is illustrious, ne has
zone 10 new life aud its activities, carry
mo with him the promise of long and
happy earthly existence unfulilled, and the
sunlight of many loving hearts. Under the
,kies of Virginia, close by the old, beloved,
and familiar town of Winchester, he sleeps
the years away, awaiting the joyful resur-
rection, while
Death lies upon him like an untimely frost
Upon the noblest flower Of all the field
Last eve when DER thy brow | bent
And met the splendor of thine eyes,
And felt the power their soft depths lent
Unto a face where beauty lies,
Fond memory wove magic spell
OF other years and other themes,
OF one who babe me life's farewell
And whom l only meet In dreams
Like bues that haunt the morning skies
Ere yet a cloud its beauty mars
Like dawn Of light in Paradise
In that sweet hour still lit with stars
And in its strong and classic grace,
Thy manly form, thy regal head,
thought of thine ancestral race,
OF one who slumbers with the dead.
And on thy lips read the trace
Of constancy that conquers fate
All Scion Of a noble race,
God wlled thee never here to wait
Lone hours to mourn in bitter tears
all loss of love and hope and trust,
Such as oft cloud our earthly years
Here. where our idols turn to dust.
Thy brow is like the marble dream
That Phidias wrought meath Grecian skies
Thy smile angelic in its CLEAN,
Or like the set of sun when dies
The day and in the twilight hour
When seraphs seeking such as thee,
Lay on thy head the precious dover
Of love, and hope, and purity.
Thy form as graceful as the palm
Beside the blue seas of the South;
Thy manners breathing Of the calm
Thy pure heart felt. About thy mouth
The charm Of youth, ere yet the years
Have wrought their mark in lines of care,
Or joys beams quenched in silent tears
Makes cen the soul feel its despair.
Again there came to me the smile
That lit thy fathers boyhood days,
And which no hours of toll can while
From out his generous, genial ways.
And yet, across thy perfect face
A lowering sadness seemed to wait.
A sigh whose echo left a trace
Of thy untimely, mourniul tate
Had death but spared thee noble boy,
What best could have wished for thee
For even gold has its alloy,
And storms oft sweep the tairest sea.
Not statesman's voice, nor fame to bring
It's thorns with roses neither fate
To wake poets harp, whose string
Once broke, might leave thee desolate
Nor soldiers's plume to wave where death
Marks its deep stain on patriot graves
Nor sailor life where soft sea breath
Soon turns TO wild and cruel waves.
Nor days devoted to some art
That sweeps all other thoughts away,
But triumph in the busy mart
Where commerce holds imperial sway.
With toll sufficient for thy strength,
And love sufficient for thy heart,
And duty measuring its length
Unto each hour, till shadows part
The day from night; then sweet repose
Such as they only who have trod
LIES pathway justly ever knows,
And faith that keeps US close to God.
In all that makes this life complete,
In duty done, in daily toll
In patience strong, in sorrow sweet
As flowers that bloom in lowly soil
Remembering heaven is ever near,
But nearest still when clouded skies
Make all lifes landscapes sad and drear,
And human hearts in shadow lies.
Life oft is measured here by years,
And love by deeds yet, after all,
What doth it matter. if in tears
We follow at the Masters call?
He knoweth best, He gave His blood
In manhoOd's morning for all earth,
A ransom for our souls He stood
That we. in death, should find our birth
We all dreamed not as day by day
You trod your fathers lofty height,
And saw the rivers winding way,
The purple hills, the soft, faint light
OF sun autumnal DER it all,
That soon our paths must severed be,
That ere the leaves should fade and fall
You would be in Eternity.
In every rose that blooms see
The memory of one fairer yet;
In every star that beams OH me,
One brighter still forever set.
Since rose and star shall bloom and shine
ITpOp thy Youthful grave in vain
And sculptured lilies shall entwine
The mound where thy dear form is lain.
To you, true soul, l bid goodbye,
Twere better had said farewell
Since summer winds above you sigh
Responsive TO funeral knell.
Oh. dear brave heart, we meet no more,
Since you have crossed the harbor bar,
But thou art safe upon that shore
Where tideleSS sleep the seas afar
III think Of thee when evening brings
Her twilight hour and gentle star
And softly comes on angel wings
From that sweet home so near yet far,
A message from thy happy soul
Forever free from earthly pain,
That tells me when the seasons roll
For Us no more, We'll meet again.
Thy true life now is but begun,
It's we who grope in shadows drear
Upon thy days unfading sun
Shall shine and never cloud be near.
Thy bright brief dream of earth is Ter,
Thy cross laid down, thy crown art won,
For thee earth's flowers bloom no more,
Thy mission filled, thy task well done!
Miss MARY GORDON DUFFEE.
DUFFFE HEIGHTs, Blount Springs, Ala, July, 90
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