Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-04-25
IN HrArroRlAm.
What sadness DER the heart Is flung
When sounds the requiem of the loved and

/
What sadness Ger the heart Is flung
When sounds the requiem of the loved ano
| yorng
In memory of Mary Windham, daugh
ter of j. r. and M. A. Windham this
tribute is written. She was born Sept.
Goth, 1875, and died Of pneumonia,
April IA, 1896. 1t will be seen that she
passed away in the morning of life,
when care was unknown and before hei
young life was shaded by sorrow.
It is not the purpose of the writer to
indulge in fulsome eulogy but to present
her character as it was, so that those
who knew her may at once recognize
the correctness of our portraiture. Mary
WAS born in the lap Of luxury, but had
mover been spoiled by it. Womanly
modesty was her browning trait; in
deed, SO great was her reserve that she
was sometimes thought cold by those
who did not know her we'll. It can be
attested by her family and intimate
friends that even within the sacred pre-
cincts of home she was never known to
repeat the smallest piece of injurious
gossip that may have come to her
knowledge. None but the purest words
emanated from her lips, and only pure
thoughts came near her heart.
The very best educational advantages
were given her and of these she made
such good use that persons entirely I'M
known to her had written rendering fine
positions in schools because of recon-
mendations from the principal of her
alma mater.
While at school she Joined the Meth
odist church, thus attesting faith in that
Savior who said BLESSED are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God ("
Retiring in her disposition, she did
not court notice or popular favor, yet
enjoyed the pleasures incident to youth.
If purity of thought and desire, love of
truth, gentleness of disposition, fit one
for the attainment of noble results in
this life, no one can estimate the heights
she might have reached, if on the other
hand it be true that the mark of rank in
nature is capacity for pain, who can
measure the suffering possible where
mind and heart are SO well attuned2
Some writer has propounded the ques-
ton, ''Are the things of this life worth
struggling for9' and answered it, say
ing Nothing is worth the toll and sac
rifice but those thingswe can carry with
us into the world beyond. = This being
true her life is now full, for of love,
purity and all those high qualities that
make life beautiful and attractive were
hers to the fullest extent. Death can
only rob us of the physical presence of
our loved ones, for the sweet recollec-
lions of tender associations abide with
us forever. How often in hours of soil :
tude and reflection will these sweet mem
cries Of our dear Mary crowd upon our
souls, filling them with yearning tender
ness and longing for the better land.
The tender regard in which she was held
by all in her community was shown by
the large concourse which attended her
burial and by the grief apparent on
every face. Indeed, strong men were
seen to weep that one so young and so
lovely should be called to answer the
roll call above, just when life seemed
brightest and the future most inviting -
The ways of God are past finding out
and we can only bow our heads and say,
Blessed be God, for He created death,
And giveth life that never more shall cease
To her parents I would say, Heaven
is no unpeopled solitude, but those who
before had gone from you were there to
greet Mary as she entered the gates of
the Celestial City, yea, may have been
the angelic escorts that lowered around
her dying pillow to conduct her through
the mysterious realms of the great be-
yond to the feet of the Savior. Think
of her meeting with Bonnie, her two
little sisters, the dear aunt who so re-
Gently preceded her, and SO many other
dear relatives and friends. She is no
stranger there, but awaits us in the
great gathering place of all who love
His appearing. Thank God for the
Christian doctrine that she has only be-
gun to live, that she is but freed from
her earthly prison and has begun real
existence. Some day you will stand
upon the mount Of vision and by faith
catch glimpses of the heavenly world,
and then how sweet to see the forms Of
your sweet children, to realize more
fully how they draw your heart strings,
and hear them whisper the sweet words,
Come Papa, ''"Come Mama /" Then
let us make of our past sorrows, failures
and regrets, stepping stones to higher
and blessed attainment, knowing that
there lis no variableness, neither shadow
of turning in Him who is our help and
our shield. -
1t has been said that sorrows are sent
for our education and publication and
that which is but path of thorns in the
passage is changed to pavement of gold
in the retrospect. Flying over the shin
ing track, we see the angel Of Col 8
providence; and then we may know
what once we could not wholly see, that
the darkness which so often passes over
us as we journey is but the shadow Of
His blessed wings. -
Some of these days all tho skies will be
brighter
Some OF these days all the burdens will be
Hearts will be happicr-souls will be winter
Some Of these days
Some of these days, in the dcsert's upspring-
ing,
Fountains shall fash, while the Joy-bells nre
ringing
And the world---with its sweetest of birds
shall go singing
Some ofthcse days
Some of these days Let us bear with our
sorrow;
Path In the ftture-its light we may borrow;
There will be JOY In the golden Tomorrow
Some OF these days
WALTER PRICE.