Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-08-31
To the Memory Of Thomas H. Neel.

To the Memory Of Thomas H. Neel.
"Gone In the flush of youth
Gone ere thy heart had felt earth's wither-
ing care;
Ere the stern world had soiled thy spirits
truth,
Or sown dark sorrow there.
Fled like dream away!
But yesterday mid lfe's auroral bloom;
To-day, sad winter, desolate and gray,
Signs round thy lonely tomb.
Fond hearts were beating high,
Fond eyes were watching for the loved one
gone,
And gentle voices deeming thou vert nigh,
Talked of thy glad return
They watched-not all in vain;
Thy form once more the wonted threshold
passd
But choking sobs, and tears like summer
rain,
Welcomed thee home at last"
These lines, as If prophetic, review the
hurried announcement received at Gathers
burg, on Tuesday of last week, that Thomas
III. Neel, who, with some relatives and com
panions, had been on a fishing excursion Mt
Capon Bridge, wishing to recover a boat
that had drifted away, excaiming, "Charley,
| will get that boat" struck out to swim for
it, and, without another word, throwing up
his hands, sank, the victim of deaths cleo.
trio call His companions Immediately
rushed to the rescue, but
"The spark of life had fled,
The loved companion in a distant land was
dead"
1t had been my privilege to direct his re-
views for entering the University of Virginia,
from which he had just graduated with hon
ors. and know, from close association, how
worthy was he of that loving esteem, 80
conspicuously displayed on the counte-
nances of an immense assembly OF his
friends, on Friday last, in honor OF the last
memorial rites.
From the little circle of loved ones at
home, up to the companions of his youth,
even unto the more advanced and aged, but
one voice was heard-a loving and loved
son, fond brother, faithful companion,
handsome, intelligent, courteous in every
act that stamps the true gentleman.
AS a student, he was earnest, atfable, ODE
dent, refusing to accept assistance until he
had himself sought and failed to find the
solution. Upon just such an ambition, he had
mastered, before he left the Academy, what
few students ever accomplish, the entire list
OF original propositions in Davies Legendre
His work in physics and chemistry had en-
tered original scope, and his field calcula-
tons had received the commentator OF the
examining board OF the institution.
At the u University he had sought wider
fields OF inquiry, and even after graduation
a longing for something beyond had led him
to desire, after rest for season, other
channels of information among the historic
libraries of his historic ancestors
That season of rest, though late, is now
at hand.
"The helm may rust, the laurel bough may
Iade
Oblivion's grasp may blunt the victor's blade;
But that bright holy wreath which learn
ing gives,
Uniform by hate, unharmed by envy, lives. F"
On Friday afternoon last, the Rev. VIM.
ii. Laird read the simple funeral service of
the church ut the home OF his father and
mother, Mr.. and Mrs, Samuel Riggs, of s,
near Laytonsville.
The Misses Waters and Wariield and
Messrs. Zach, Washington and Edwin
w aters, all of Goshen choir, rendered very
touchingly that beautiful hymn, Just as
am, without one plea" followed by the con.
selling one of the "Home OF the Soul" Six of
his young companions, Messrs, Uriah and
ARENAS Griffith, Walter Mobley, Israel
Warfeld, Elgee Riggs and Mack Waters,
bore the remains to the cemetery of st.
Johns, at Olney, where sleeps his father,
who, when he died in 1873 was but five
years older than his son. During the service
at the grave the choir sang" 81 would not
live Away, ask not to stay" and as the
body was consigned to its rest, tears were
brought TO many eyes by the tender strains
of the final hymn, ave shall sleep, but not
forever"
AT the conclusion Mrs. Charles Waters,
Misses Eliza Riggs, Louie Riggs and Olivia
Myers covered his grave with handsome
floral offerings. AT the head was placed a
broken shaft, indicative of the young life Of
so suddenly cast down the gilt OF DIR.
Waters and son, who were with him at his
death The other offerings were from Miss
Louie Riggs, Mr.. and Mrs. Il. Wood, Mr..
and Mrs. Walter Mobley, and the children
of his own family.
Upon that cemetery hill, which receives
the first greeting of the rising sun, his form
now rests His spirit, on the light OF the
morning, entering that long journey into
other realms, joins in the refrain,
LEAD, kindly light, amid the encirclng
gloom,
Lead thou me on
The night is dark, and am far from home,
Lead thou me on
Keep thou my feet do not ask TO see
The distant scene. One steps enough for
me-"
j. ID. W.