The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-06-17
a TRIBUTE.

~ S'''"''"S "uut oNh3 NS " ~ u
renewed energy the light WIS mas.
taring the sl'rouds Of night and
bringing again the blessings of a
'ew day, at that hour when the
limnal prophecy of the final and
eternal conquest Of life over death
wrought by tire power Of Him who
made he light and the ,lal kness
at the s.breaking of the day"
God said, ''let there he light" ami
there was light for LEILA CULLEN.
For a brief space her soul had
tahernacled in the flesh, amid the
gloom and the s|,aGoas and the
uncertainties OF life, but she had
found that name, above every
name, without whom there is no
Lille nor abiding strength; without
whom there is no comfort that is
not dv'asion, and hence a fatal
snare; and fildipg it, hid not
stumbled nor CROPPED after false
Gods, but with a f.itllicl ard sure
tread had followed it with Steady
step. With her the darkness was
no darkness at all. At the hour
Of hope for the coming of better
things her angel and ninisteripg
spirit was hidden by the Master to
release the bands that tied her
soul to the land of shadows and to
bring his precious charge to the
eternal light Of Paradise, where
there is no night.
Without pain to his beloved one,
the angel severed tile cord that
lad held soul and body together.
The body fell on sleep; the spirit
was led by the faithful guardian
through the mystic gate, wide
open, into tue pleasant Inheritance
oi which she had been made heir
some eighteen years before.
''Leave me not, neither forsake
me-" was her prayer addressed to
earthly ears. The Eternal Father
heard aud took tie words as adj
dressed to Himself. He did not
leave nor fOrsake and carried the
lamb where there could be no fear
that she could ever be taken from
His presence, and where the con-
science of His abiding should be
imminent as of life itself. Some
talk Of the universally of sorrow
and strive to comfort by repeating
such lines as. these:
There is no flock, however watched and
tended,
But one dead lamb is there;
There is no iiresidc, howsoevcr defended,
But has one vacant chair.
We rNuse in such fashion be-
cause we will not let our spirits
see save through their eyes of
flesh. But rather let the Disciple
know Him in whom he has be-
licved. Let him hear the great
theme of christian preaching
Jesus aud the Resurrection. Let
him learn of Il surety, that there is
no spirit death, save in the exclu.
sion from the Source of Life.
There are no dead lambs in the
christian family. The tender ones
are taken to better pastures and
fairer fields. They may not come
again to feast on viands that are
for the nourisllment of the body
only, but we can go to them and
feast with them at the true table
and upon the true Bread. Blessed
ere the pure in heart, for they
shall see God Happy the guile
less ones who joy about His throne.
A conscience void Of offense and
enlightened by Divine grace to
discern the right and the true.
Such was the inward monitor that
built up the character of LEILA
CULLEN, and made the pure, mod
est, noble maiden-a character
like that sung by poet and paint
ed 10y artist as the saint. We sor-
row and we weep, not that she has
lost anything of real woyth, but
that We have lost the stlAiuIaut Of
her presence.
Perpetual light doth stline npou her sonl:
Her body fests IL sed's prasr Hnti] Ills
uar.