The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1897-02-06

he tWlned the crown about the cross,
: Then called in thy youthful bloom
!, And laid thee low in humble tomb,
We know not why-we dare not moan,
We thought thee ~ours-thou vert His own
And l but feel that death must be
His highest, hottest gift to thee.
on, We! whose hearts are sad and sore,
Who long to see his face once more,
Who feel that Earth has lost its light.
ina Joy has c~hangedto sorrows night,
Do not complain. He k1oweth best,
who giveth His beloved ones rest.'
perhaps He knew hat life would be
100 sordid, low, for such as he,-
That his proud soul would fret to find
lis fellow beings base, unkind,
And grieve to see his ideals fade
Beneath the v~ileness born OF trade
And thus, while Life and Love were bright.
God flashed DER all undyfng light.
Aud closing soft those star-lit eyes,
Babe Payne awake-in Paradiset
s.B. ELDER.
New Orleans, La, Jan. IL, 1897.
When a loved n passes away, the
hearts that held him close, seek to re-
call, as a fond consolation, each word
and look Of the departed. And thus it
is that memory dweils upon that van
ished past in which Payne was the joy,
the light, the center. and treasures
fondly every scene in which he bore a
part.
As a student of Tulane, he was a
model of industry, yet full Of boytsh
as a student Of the law school.
he was remarkable for his close ~atten-
ton to his studies, and for his clear
perception Of the most obstruse sub
And even when his health.
never robust, gave way, his indomit-
will upheld and carried him
many long months of intellect
lal toll.
But when he learned that others.
llas! knew too well-tIat his DAYS
numbered, he still walked fear
along the steep decline, facing
lis early doom without a muImur or a
Ugh. In the journal of a friend who
new him well we read:
July 90, 1890.
"a very witty letter received to-day
rom Payne. How comic be! And how
him! So often | would hear a brisk.
ght. independent step, then the door
pens and in comes Payne smiling like
he dawn;his form so erect, his movements
} graceful, his head so we'll poised, his
re so clear and frank and ~intelligent-
typical student, tall, pale. slender. !
ltellectual-and withal brimful of awful
ischief.n 4
And this pen picture was drawn only
x years ago! How wildly it brings
mind his presence in our midst, and y
| the bright promise of his young
anhood.
Again we read:
November 10. 1890. '
Zone chilly evening. someone remarked
at 1t would be well to have q fire as y
was an invalid. Then Payne. alr
.ent, all noiseless, and unnotieed. goes i
out making the fire himself and before
? know it, there is a cosy blaze faTing I
the chimney! Oh. PAYNE is an angel
lite! All his show of cynicism to the
ntrary notwithstanding. And whether :
builds the fire, or lights the gas. or
nds a chair. or steps across the floor, or i,
es leapIng up the stairs, or sits at the
BILE. or bends over his books, always il
d ever, there is a princely grace about
m-alWays and ever, a stateliness and, Il
'sance in every pose and movement
lich makes me wish | could paint him
It as he looked at that instant,n VI
There needs no artists brush to
Ing before the minds of those who 10
eW him, all the intellectual beauty
his face and all the gracious charm VI
his manner. These things are treas
id in our hearts and will live forever nj
our memory.
And now, alas. n entry more:
March 4. 1894. IL.
The doctor has ordered Payne home.
he left this moraing. lie is pale