The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-09-28
In MemOriam.

one who feels the weight of man.
&. years upon him-whose form bend
!, towards the earth which is waiting t
| receive it against its bosom. ant
whose hair is white as Alpine SHOWS
: death often comes as Il sweet release
The I'LL of their lives has been gOine
down the western slope for many
years, and it is time for it to set. anG
when the end comes they look up witt
faith and say: Il am waiting to heal
the summOns-'cOme home"
But when a baby dies-when the sun
of light is darkened by the clouds OF
death when 1t has just peeped from
above the eastern hOrizon-we pause
and drop a tear and mourn for a bud
which was blasted ere it bloomed into
a useful and happy life.
The old mans journey is done and
it is time for him to receive his re-
ward: the baby's course is just begun
and it seems hard that he is taken
JIM o1 "hCH MS prospect II ~ bI49ll
here.
Two little hands folded upon a
baby's breast: two eyelids closed over
orbS from which the light of life has
flown: two tiny feet which will never
walk the thorny path of life: and all
that is mortal of Little Tommie Adams
lies cold and still and white in the
caSket before Us.
Dead, did you say: Man. whose
mind is finite, says he is dead. God.
whose wisdom is infinite, says he
lives. The baby came from the land
of God so short a time ago that it has
not been polluted by the touch of sin.
its innocence and purity had not time
to become poisoned by the hand of
Satan. Gods finger touched him and
he slept. The Creator gave him to
the world to show how sweet a flower
would bloom in paradise from this
little bud. The mother. father. broth
ers and sisters weep but their dear
little Tommie is with him who said:
suffer the little children to come un-
to me
On the cvenIn" OF September ~.
1885. the spirit of little TOmmie. our
beloved one. left its tenement of clay
and went back to its Giver. The sun
shown brightly on that morning: the
birds sang in the trees just outside the
door: the gentle breezes caused the
leaves to rustic and make il music
which is sweet to hear, but within the
home all IA sadness and mourning.
The clouds of dissolution like a pail
between the sunlight and the mother
and father of the dead child: the chill
ING bleeZes from the valley Of the
shadow of death stirred the leaves for
them and the sound was harsh and
diScordant: the sweet voiced sOngsters
in the branches sang Il song which
seemed to the bereaved to be Il hollow
mockery. Oh. how could they sing
when hot. %scalding, briny tears were
being wrung from anguished hearts:
when light of baby's eyes had gone
out and the little heart was still.
No device of the human mind can
measure a mothers. fathers. broth
er's or sisters grief: no words of man
ear express the sadness and desola-
ton of a heart bereft of Il loved one
The magic of Handel's art: the melody
of vesper bells. or the gifted e%loquence
of Il Grecian band could not portray
the bOundless and unreasonable love
of Il parent for IA child. Mans de-
scriptive powers are beggared and his
lips are dumb before their grief when
they see their hopes shattered and
erstwhile laughing and vivacious boy !
only a piece of ~lifeless clay.
Little TOmmie is gone. No more will
he he pressed lovingly to his parents
bosom: no more will his baby laugh
echo throughout the home he bright
ened: no more will the fond mother
look into his eyes and think of the
time when her baby boy will grow to
manhood and walk among his fellows
an honored and an honorable man.
He is not lost but only gone before,
and when the storm of life is over
may we meet little Tommie in the city
CT eternal life and light.
!
He is not dead. but only gone before,
He waits with Christ. his Saviour on
hat far distant shore.
His little hands Outstretched. his
Saviour guides him now.
No pain. or care or suffering rest on
his pure white brow:
But only peace and gladness and Gods
empowering love.
He's happy with the angels now in
Gods home. Heaven above.
So weep no more, dear parents. and
brothers. sisters. too.
But dry your tears. your Tommie's
safe and waits to welcome you
Beyond the dark, dark river of death
into the purer life.
Where all is Joy and gladness. beyond
this world of strife.
So do not seek by grieving to dim his
Heavenly bliss,
In spirit he's still with you. though
the casket you will miss.
Though dearly we all loved him. our