The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-12-01

the south. The outline of wolf on the
crest, the howl of coyote by night and
the infrequent call of neighbor by day.
He took it fresh from the public do
main, and, as he lies here dead, the
great city surges on all sides of it, but
it's acres are intact. The orchard
rambles toward the city, its large com
fort in pleasing contrast to the scant
trees that front a city lot. YOnder are
the hiVed bees with their stored honey
waiting the advent Of blossom, a pic
ture of repose. The rustic of the dead
leaves along the tangled grass of the
orchard, quiet and soIacing calm
against the heartleSS and stony traffic
of the city. I was here last Sunday as
the good neighbOr lay dying. He had
been dominant lord of this homestead
for forty years. Forty years of Vi
cissitude, of ups and downs, of cares
and burdens and tolls. Untempted by
rich offers, it remained at the last in
it's integrity. It was part of his being;
it has been carved by his mind it was in
the largest significance his home. 1t
clustered with memories any one OF
which he may have valued beyond
what its acres would have brought. Tt
was here that the fire cleaned on his
first hearthstOne; here. he builded his
first altar; here was the birth place
Of his children and here the mourners
may nave gone out its doors as we do
today; here were plighted new faiths
from the old loves; here he brought his
young wife and here the common toll
and sacrifice that blent their being into
one. Here it seemed to him his voy-
age would end; this shining pro-
mOntory that jutted out it's shore line
into the eternal sea, where the sails go
by only at night.
He planted these trees; he budded.
grated and cared for them all. And
the Trees bent kindly to him their au-
tumnal store He has wandered through
these orchard lanes a thousand times.
He was the familiar of each tree; they
waited his coming and they met him
as friends. He talked to them in the
various and universal language Of all
Nature and they sought the passing
zephyr to move them with the courte-
sy and grace of reply. 1 have walked
with him in the woods The forest
was his temple; the signing tree tops
chatted him anthems, the winged in
hab1tantS chorused the song, the lOOs-
ened perfume of cone and leaf ming
ling with the fecked sunshine, fling
ing as censer its incense to the wild
bee and singing bird. He knew the
bark and leaf of them all, the sex and
age; the habits Of each; he knew the
time when their sap ran, when their
bOles darkened and when their buds
would begin to unfold. With the down
ward fiuttering of the lingering leaves
he stepped from out the warmth and
love of a household, and went with the
last flush of sunset into the great be-
yOnd. Not with fear, but in peace: not
in the embrace of light slumber that
might be broken by a whisper, but
into the sleep of rayless eyes and fold
ed hands, with lips that move not nor
tremble with name, nor laughter nor
song. The bare trees are mourners
with us today.
He was public benefactor. He
planted and grew and that others
might sit in the shade was all the
bounty he claimed. He knew the birds
that sung in the branches. His heart
was always in tune to their song. The
Yagrom bird dropped from its mouth a
stray seed in its flight, but he noticed
and cared for the scion. and the lover
trysted with his sweetheart and little
children frolicked in their play be
meath the shade Of the mulberry the
|. bird had brought.
Life had a larger measure to him
than its commerce. He lived a good.
wholesome, clean life of simple ways
and largest faiths. There is no yearn-
ing query at the end of such a life. The
mystery of death may not be explored.
! but faith satisfies it. He has answered
speculation, and the wisdom of his life
is in the unmeasured peace of his lfv-
ing, his fulneSs of days, blest in his
land, a good name throughout all Is
fael' ana none TO weep or grIeVe for
him as those who mourn without hope.
He was soldier, brave in every
duty, to every burden, to every care
but, if he had ever understood the base
ness of ingratitude, it would have bro
ken his heart.
AT the measured end Of his days. look
ing out over these repOseful and pleas
ant scenes in sight of the orchard
trees. grave faces of neighbOrs seen
! through the mists that cloud the vision
of the dying, touched by the hands of
wife and children, envelOped with their
love, waited by their prayers. he met
the sun rise beyond deaths dark day
with their kisses yet warm and dewy
upon his lips.
Pioneer, benefactor, soldier, citizen,
neighbOr and friend.
sleep sweetly tender heart, in peace,
Sleep, holy spirit, blessed soul
| While the suns burn, the moons in
crease
And the great ages onward rolI.'