The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-08-13
In 1emOriam.
"Oh! where can rest be found,
Rest for the weary soul;

Rest for the weary SOUL
Not on earth can this rest abound,
Only in Heavens blessed fold"
One more soul found this peaceful rest
on the evening of June 25th, when the
grim messenger of death winged his
flight to earth and bore away the gentle
spirit of Jennie Edwards Watkins, wife
Lands and Sophronia Edwards. She
was born June 18th, 1873; died June
25th, 1896, being only % years of
age and having been married only 10
months.
The death OF this lovely young woman
almost palsied the hearts of friends and
relatives and once more came forth
from many lips the oft repeated ''Surely
Gods ways are mysterious" She was
the youngest of seven children, the pet
and idol CT the household, but this in no
way tended to I'M ure her sweet and ami
able disposition.
From child she was ever a burning
light in the family circle, her gentle
hands always ready to administer COM
forts to those around her, her bright and
happy face imperceptibly dspelling the
cares and burdens that encountered
their lives. Sweetly and patiently she
toiled to brighten the declining years
of an invalid mother and an aged father,
who only little while ago preceded her
to the realms of glory Five times with
in year the angel OF death has visited
with human pride upon the dear old
home where once they were bound by
| every bond of love and affection. One
| by one they have been snapped until the
| bleeding hearts Of those remaining find
| comfort only in knowing that their
Heavenly home is waiting where no more
| sorrows and separations can ever be eX-
perienced.
Thank God for this early separation,
| for by this we are made to realize how
| short is our stay on earth, how sure is
| death, and that our only real home is in
| Heaven. This faithful follower OF Christ
| professed faith in Him at an early age
| and joined the NJ. p. Church at Union
| Chapel, Granville circuit, where she re-
| manned Il loyal and consistent member
until her death. Her place there was
| seldom vacant and her clear, sweet
voice rang out in songs OF praise and re-
| ligious worship. Her life was truly
| Christ-like and will ever stand out liv-
ing example Of deep piety. During her
| Her only child, aged months, sickened,
suffered and died before the eyes OF the
| helpless mother. Although she was rem
| dered powerless to alleviate the suffering
| OF her darling child, with mothers low
| ing care, even then she forgot not her
duty of resignation to higher power
| and with a bleeding heart watched the
| little sufferer without one murmur or
| complaint until death delivered it into
! the hands of the blessed Saviour. For
| many days afterward she lowered be-
| tween life and death and although every
| care that kind hearts and loving hands
| could bestOw was administered all was
of no avail. God in His infinite wisdom
| saw fit to take the sufferer home and on
| the evening Of June 25th, the angel of
| death darkened the doors of her neat lit
| tie home and returned accompanied by
Jennie's sweet spirit.
She met the end with the triumph OF
! one whose life has been preparatio for
| death. Calling her husband to her bed
side she expressed her willingness and
readiness to go and begged that he
would meet her on the other shore, then
with that calm, sweet resi- gnation that
inevitably casts a ray of light over the
| otherwise gloomy hearts of sorrowing
| loved ones, she gently breathed her last.
| How strange it seems to our weak and
| feeble minds that this bright young wo-
man should be cut down in the prime of
| life, that her pure and Christ-like life
should be terminated just as it seemed
capable OF the most good, but God doeth
all things well and we have only to bow
| in Christian submission to His will Our
hearts go out in sympathy for the be-
reaved young husband and relatives but
why mourn dear relatives and friendso
Although the sable curtains OF death
| forever hide her from mortal view she is
now an Angel, bright, clothed in raiment
white and new. A bright crown is upon
her brow. a golden harp is within her
| hand and her low, sweet voice is now
singing praises unto God. Were it in
our power to call her back from Heaven
| Oh! how could we wish her back again in
this cruel world where joys are mingled
with sorrow, grief and pain. Can we re-
pine when God has taken what with JUS
tice He can claim as His own? We know
she cannot come back to us for none re-
turn from those quiet shores, but we have
the bright assurance of meeting her in
that happy, Heavenly home.
So let US rejoice that she was not longer
spared to encounter the cares and con-
fiicts OF this world and that although
her life here is ended she is now beginning
life of eternal bliss in her Heavenly
mansion, where with outstretched arms
she awaits to welcome the loved ones
from whom she has SO recently been