The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-18
IN MEMORY OF LITTLE JAMES
POAGUE.

BLESSED art they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted.' - EesI
These words of the Divine Master are
so consoling that Ii leaves little for us to
say in expressing our sympathy to friends
in their hour of tribulation There was
scarcely creature in the community
who was not touched when on August
the sixth it was reported that three little
boys were drowned in Roanoke river; one
oil these young victims was James Poague,
the son of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Poague.
and nephew of Mrs. St Clair, of this city.
The friends of the family, for Mrs.
Poague has many here, and Mt her old
nome in Botetourt, being the daughter of
the late John NJ. Robinson, of that coun-
ty, and sister of DR.. l.. B. Robinson, of
Shawsville, felt sincere distress at this
sad affair, which came with such n crusb
ing blow upon the hearts of the fond
father and mother. Few parents could
Doast OF son equal to little James
Poague, modest, refined and dignified be-
yohh MS years. An old gentleman was
heard TO say while gazing upon the sweet,
sui lace of the boy as it reposed in it's
last long sleep, that he loved the child.
he was so NOBLE while expressions OF
aHectlon. admiration and regret could he
heard on all sides. He was entering his
fourteenth year, and for the last two or
three had oiiiciated as one of the little
altar boys at st. Andrews Catholic
Church. There were few who failed To
remark the quiet, collected, young
acoly te as he assisted the priest at the
DNine mysteries The boys character
may ne well estimated, when we consider.
that his companions loved him to thai
extent that one of them gave his life 70
save nun from watery grave, but unfor-
tunately the little hero's effort was Lost.
they together with their young compan1
ION rendered their sOnls into the hands of
Cle MAKER who created them Tho
iuherai services were conducted Mt ST.
Andrews Church, the Rev Father Jynch
oihclating then the remains were taken
TO Botetourt, where the body of the dear
NIUE hoy was to repose beside the friends
ana relatives who have been inferred
Cuere Tor four or five generations. Now
W 'ne parents let us say, that God has
not touched their hearts with a cross 10
wound them, bnt to enorave unon tbon,
It's virtues and its fa tn The church bos
the most beautiful and consolino practice
In caring for its dead. There is an espe-
Gu uay set apart, every year, to com
memorate the dead The most sublime
sacrince OF the Mass is celebrated through
out the known world; from the rising of
the sun, till the going down of the same
oesioes the united prayers and supplica-
tions OF millions and millions of Catholics
with scarcely one of them who does NOT,
say during the day, Eternal rest give
unto them, O Lord! and let perpetual
light shine upon them" This custom of
praying for the departed is not only rec
commended by the church, but it is a most.
ancient practice; we find as ia back az
r 1os, before the coming of Christ, that the
General Judas Machabeus fighting against.
cue IyTiahs, lost many soldiers; after the
o"oSie nc sent TO Jerusalem twelve thou
sand draclms of silver to have sacr;fices
oiered for those who FELL saving: at
was holy and wholesome tIon9ht To
pray for the dead, that they NAV be
loosed from their sins.n
A FRIEND.
having no soda water nor ice cream