Democratic messenger., 1894-07-07
Two More Graves.
By DIR. l.. =. BOWEN.
For the MEssENGER.

For the MESSENGER.
Now and then, with az impulse |
feel impelled to bring my tribute from
a distance and lay it upon Maryland
graves. Two of these have lately been
filled, only week apart. in the Pres
byterian cemetery mt Pocomoke City,
sacred memorial mounds in which
Snow Hill also feels kindred interest
Years ago in your town, down
toward the river, became acquainted
with father and daughter who at
tracted me from the first, aud who
were in years to come, years then
undreamed of, to become Il large part
Of my earthly rest and happiness.
There was strong resemblance be-
tween the two. lie, with an open,
manly face, which invited trust and
was Il guarantee OF faithfulness, aud
she in the bloom of her early girlhOod,
with ingenious countenance and mag
niiicent eyes telling of truth and purity
and, il need be, Of heroism.
Then law student of Judge Frank
Inns, the first Mrs. Franklin-with
praise of the girl-brought me into
pleasant acquaintanceship with the
family. Those introductions seem in
memory as fresh and fragrant as of
yesterday-the young damsel in her
rare beauty, the father with all his
pride ofhis child How little we know
uf what the future means for us,
Who then could have prophesied that
the law student would stand some day
in one of the pulpits OF his native
county, brought thther from the far
West by that father. where he and
his daughter were to be largely the
inspiration and comfort and cheer OF
both pulpit and pastorate?
1t has been my lot to associate
extensively with men from the Atlantic
To- the Rockies. and say intelligently
that | have known no truer man, no
sturdier man, no more genuine, trust
worthy man than Thomas +. Stephen
son. lie was certain to have enemies,
he was sure to have friends. Once
your friend, he was, like his Master.
friend that sticketh closer than
brother. Whether others liked you
or not, whether popular or unpopular,
though he stood alone and injured
himself by his advocacy, he cared not,
he hesitated not, he would have shared
it all with you and died for you.
Was he little stubborn? He was
stubborn for what he felt to be right
and for those whom he believed to be
wronged. He lived modestly, within
his business, within his family, within
his church, and invited no conflict.
He assaulted no one and no ones inter
est, but it would not do for the aggressor
to trample too heavily upon his toes
or the toes of his friends.
His last years were years of weaning
from earth. The ties parted rapidly.
Cntoward circumstances separated him
from the church of his fathers, and.
though he found spiritual home
elsewhere, he felt like an exile, still
loved the ancestral faith, and was not
Just the same afterwards. After his
wife went he had no wish to stay.
His mind and heart were on ahead
Business affairs were put in order to
20. ! never knew soul more COM
pletely loose from the things of time
and sense told him there were still
a number of us who could poorly spare
him; that there were faithful bosOms
yet which would be clouded by his
going; that no one had more devoted
wreath of hearts entwined about his
declining days. This was = years ago.
His answer was: But | am worn
and weary, and the next world is best"
Millie Stevenson Primrose was a
worthy daughter OLA worthy sire. Snow
Hill has been honored in her daughters.
the birthplace of model women-but
never nobler than she. In all that
elevates and adorns true womanhood.
she shone with mild but undimmed
radiance. There was nothing specious,
nothing fimsy, nothing pretentious.
She was thoroughly substantial and
thoroughly good In the home, in the
social circle, in the schoolroom, in the
church, her life was recognized rs II
benediction and balm. Her charac-
ter was thing Of power All her
pastors were proud of her. She would
have been as light in any land.
Finally. only a week in advance of
her father. the good woman faded and
passed on up. These scenes were full
OF pathos. He had no thought but
that her soft hands would close his
eyes. Immediately he felt the last
moorings breaking and soon he floated
peacefully out upon the tide. | am
glad that the homesick and home
bound was permitted to have his way.
The writer is left for awhile to mourn
two of the best friends he ever knew,
but these are two more sweet links To
bind tenderly to those serener climes
where the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary are at rest.
Not privileged to be at bedside or
burial and to tell my feelings there.
| have claimed a melancholy pleasure
in speaking thus in the columns of the
MESSENGER Ii was an humble home !;
it claimed no alliance with the great
ones OF the earth; but it is out of
homes like these that men and women
are coming who are to be great in the
kingdom of Heaven When the
graves shall burst, the Stevensons will
need no earthly patents of nobility.
no human heraldry to proclaim their
merits.
The levy for Wicomico county has