The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-02-17
Sad Deash Of A Worthy Young Man

paopIe OF the town than that of pale
faced but l,ie-ieatured and still nobler
purposad youth who for years had
stridden on crutches to and from the
press room of The COMMONWEALTH.
1t was Earl Waiston, son of Mr.. and
Mrs w. r. Walston, whose mortal re-
mains we laid away to rest in the Bap
list cemetery in the sweet and balmv
afternoon of Thursday February 10,
1898. AS the cold clods rumbled in
on the coffin lid and few friends
cbanled "Asleep in Jesus" and the
minister pronounced the last sad bene-
dictlon over the pulseless form of a
noble young man of noble character,
1t seemed fitting time for the spirit
of one who had been weighed in the
balance and had not been found want
ing to pass up to the glory land, leav-
Ing in the hearts of those who last be-
held him in the flesh the consoling
recollection of a sweet and smiling sun
shine to kiss farewell his last day on
earth; ana the pleasing reflection
that at eventide for the first night OF
his en- brace IN mother earth, Heaven 5
sentinels, the stars. would keep bright
but silent watch over the loved form
as It entered upon the long sleep in the
narrow cell OF clay, to awake at the
resurrection morn to put on the UNI
fading robes OF g blessed immortality
Earl NValston was born September
%, 1875. being little more than %
wears old at the time O; his death, Feb.
$, 1888. In his early childhood he
became afflicted from an accident to
one Of his ankles, and the writer's first
recollection OF him was as a little Sun
day school scholar on crutches, fifteen
years ago.
More or less for all his life be was
compelled to go on crutches but
though he moved with halting strides,
he went to duty ever with a cheerful
face.
While he was yet young he learned
the printers trade IN this Office under
the care ard oversight OF the writer,
AID he became a most accurate, pains
taking and reliable printer, even before
he had passed the years OF boyhood.
lie was studious and ambitious and
he spent the first half of the year 1895
student in Wake Forest College,
where he soon became a favorlte with
his teachers and his fellow students ana
held their highest esteem until the
day OF his death. Returning home be
went to Johns Hopkins hospital il
Of getting his lame ankle cured, be-
cause it troubled him worse the older
be grew. He made two visits to the
hospital but found 40 permanent relief
In The face Of such painful and hope
less affection, he girded himself man
fully for the battle of life and struck
ont for himself, never for moment
entertaining a thought OF being dc
lendent. He did good and acceptable
work as clerk In Mr. J. Frank Brinkley s
office as register OF deeds for Halifax
county in November and December,
1896. In January and February, 1897
be worked at the printers case in THE
CoMMoNWEALTH office, and his last
days work was done here. The writer
the noble boy while he was living and
| going about bis work-that we Wero
Just as confident that he was doing his
duty when we were hundreds OF miles
| from him as if we were standing at his
elbow and watching the placement OF
every type he set. He was as faithful
to duty. it always seemed to us, as it
was possible for mortal to be.
! tuberculosis attacked his weakened
limb, invaded bis whole system, and tor
months be was unable to come upon
TIE streets, and finally Kept his bed
until the summons came. He was
ready for being intelligent to an un-
usual degree, strong minded and of Il
submissive spirit, he trusted Jesus as
| his Savior, and gave his father that
comforting assurance after he could nc
more leave his room.
No youth has ever held higher
place in the esteem of the people o.
this community, which fact was de.
monstrated by the long procession
which followed the slow noddlns
plumes of the hearse to the place
where the body was laid to rest. We
all loved him tor bis true worth, anG
all are sad that he was not spared tt
fill the high and grand mission of good
ness and usefulness which seemed Il
stretch out before him.
Spared on earth life of pain,
Hi, death to Inns eternal gain;
4 noble soul from us has gone
To nobler heig bts--the bright beyond
Don't think that your liver needs