Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-05-02
\ FRIEND.
THE FOLLOWING TRIBUTE FROM HER
CHILDREN Is PUBLISHED IN Low
ING REMEMBRACE OF THE TRU.
EST AND DEAREST OF MOTHERS

TIE FOLLOWING Tribute FROM HER
CHILDREN IL PUBLISHED IN Low
ING REMEMBKACE OF THE TRI,.
EST AND DEAREST OF MOTHERS
We regard it duty MS well as Il sad
pleasure to offer this necessarily dcfcc-
tive tribute of flial love and respect to
the memory of our tenderly beloved an
gel mother.
Wednesday evening, February 18th.
1898, between and : o'clock, our dear
mother. having just walked across her
room, was sitting in her easy chair 10y
her iireside. Awakiug from a short.
peaceful sleep, she addressed an inquiry
TO her faithful son concerning his com.
tort-thus eyincing that fond mother
love to the close of her beautiful life
instantly the dear head bowed, the la
bored thrObOings of the weary heart
were stilled and those precioua hands,
which had toiled so many wears and
performed innumerable deeds of love
and tenderness, lay motionless by her
side, never, never more in this world to
lovingly respond to our clasp God
pity us. we no longer had mother
here. The Angel Bands about
which she so loved to hear us sing, had,
indeed, come and ION their snowy
wings borne from its casket the price
less Jewel-the sweet spirit Of our al.
most ldollZed mother-to her heavenly
home. Thus she left us-as gently and
peacefully as passes away a sweet, calm
summer eVe-her wish being realized
that If it were her Fathers will she
might cease at once to work and live.
Truly, a ripe golden sheaf has been gar
nered While the heart broken ones
| LETT behind were agonlZing oyer their ir-
reparable loss, which threatened to
oyerwhelm them, doubtless the glad
song, Welcome home pure one -
greeted her entrance to the land of glory.
Although called away so. suddenly
we believe she was ever ready for the
summons. Her spOtleSs christian life
convinces us that AL Is well'' with
our mother. She was fully conscious
OF the precarious condition of her
health, yet she assured us, So earnestly
that this fact atfrighted her not in the
least.
Realizing the inestImable value of
prayer, she was often found in most
earnest supplication at the mercy seat,
and grieved when the poor afflicted
limbs prevented her from bowling in
prayer.
Her Bible was to her ever rich foun-
tain whence she daily drew spiritual
nourishment. a book of large type.
the gift OF her kind and valued friend,
Judge McWhorter. enabled her, to her
great delight, to read her best loved
book almost to the close of her life.
She faithfully and gladly attended
upon all the means of grace within her
power, and her pastor testified that she
contributed "all She could" for the
support Of the Gospel. Her tender
heart ever responded to the cry of dis.
treSs.
Holy song was one of the greatest
pleasures of her life--so sweetIy she
sang those grand old hymns, She never
tired OF hearing either instrumental or
vocal music.
How very much she enJoyed attend
ing campmeetings! And why should
she not, when it was there, in her early
life, that she first tasted of the wonder.
full riches of the grace and love of God
which bore her safely through the trials
and temptations of this world and
eventually landed her trlumphantly into
the haven of eternal rest ?
Mother possessed very cheerful and
hopeful disposition, an indomitable
perseverance and energy, and was sin.
gularly sOllcitOus of the welfare of her
family and the education of her chill
dren.
For many years she had suffered much
from complication OF diseases, and
during the later years of her life it was
torturing to see how the poor, feeble.
aged body was racked with pain, but
the most affective to her was her fail
ing sight, but she endured oil with the
sweetest submission, saying "whOm
the Lord loveth He chasteneth." She
would often say, "If only | could see
but my Saviour knows what is best for
me. ~ Although the subject of so MANY
physical intirmities her mental faculties
remained entirely unclouded
! Oh, that appallIngly dismal scene Of
Feb. 10th, 1T was burned into our
memory when the form of our dear
mother was borne from her beloved
home where she had for so long been
the sunshine, the life, the all in all to
us, and we with tortured hearts follow
ing, all enveloped in snow, typical of
her pure, lovely life, such a strange
whlteness eVerywhere-it appeared to
us that nature bowed in sympathy with
the eart-broken ones. After sermon
by her pastor from that most apprupri
ate and comforting text, = Timothy,
4th chapter and eth and Sth verses. and
sweet, soothing music 10y some Of her
dearest friends, and other rites, her
| body was tenderly laid by the side of
that of her beloved and iamcntcd huS
band. We returned to the deSolatc
home-despOiled of that supreme at
| traction which drew us there so ire
sistably. No words can depict our ut
ter fOrlOrnncss. The 18th of last De
cember our precious mother, in her
yard. spoke her last broken, lingering.
loving words Of farewell to us until we
meet upon the evergreen shore, where
the piercing cold which assailed her
frall body during the last days of her
a. hor
kindly, irdeed, did God veil our ewes
then that we might not be overcome bv
that sad. sad parting! Soon we were
there again, but, alas we received not
that tender, JOYOUS welcome from those
precious lips, we heard not the familiar
steps OF the everything feet and that
dear presence which was wont to per-
wade those rooms was so, so silent -
Where'er we went, where'er we turned
our sOrrOwful gaze, we seemed to hear
to See-the mOurnful refrain :" Moth
er s gone :" " Mothers gone"
"Oh for a touch of the vanished
hand, which was balm TO our throb-
bling brow
Oh. for one Loving word by that an
gellc voice, and one lingering view of
that sweet face, to carry consolation to
our longing, aching hearts
How can we portray the depth Of that
thoroughly unsel6sh mothers love and
tenderness 1t was unfathomable.-
What do we not owe her memory for
her ceaseless care oyer us, especially
during long weary hours of illness.
when her prayers and care must have
called us back from death door. That
memory shall ever remain enshrined i'm
our hearts as most precious GEM
4" To live in hearts we leave behind
is not In die - Mntbar' what , -,