Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-05-17

For the second time this winter has
the grim Reaper thrust his sickle
ruthlessly among the unripe grain;
once again are teachers and pupils oil
the high school called to lament the
untimely departure of a classmate
and friend. As before, we are forcib-
ly reminded of the old saying that
the king OF shadows loves a shining
mark, for In the death Of Emma
Schmitt the high school has been be-
reft of a pupil Of rare promise and
unusual attachments. Only during
the past year has the shuttle OF her
young life carried the thread across
the wool Of u existence, yet the
figure there woven will ever remain
to brighten and adOrn the pattern.
Her sterling qualities were the out
ward expression OF a deeply earnest
soul, not yet furnished with undue
contact with the world; and her un-
folding life daily revealed to herteach-
ers and friends a nature that realized
already somewhat Of thepoet's vision
as he penned the immortal lines:
Life is real, Life is earnest,
And the grave Is not its goal;
Dust to dust, to dust returnest
Was not written of the SOUL"
AS we thus devote a passing mo-
ment to the memory of our departed
pupil and friend there arises before us
the recollection OF her sweet, quiet
manner, for hers was a shrinking, re-
firing disposition that prefers to do
its duty in unobtrusive silence, seek
ing perfection In action not for the
sake Of calling attention to it's deeds,
but for the sake Of truth for its own
sake. Forgetful of self and of the
fact that the lowly, quiet life il born
OF the deepest strength, Emma
Schmitt met her daily task with un-
fiinching heroism. not knowing that
her school life, in its persistent devO-
ton, was making her noble and beau
tiful In character. She was a student
in the truest sense Of the term, ever
seeking to master every difficulty In
her own might, patiently taking up
the nearest duty at hand, humbly
striving to carry out the wishes and
directions of her teachers, and find
ing no task too lowly and laboriOus
for her willing hand and brain. Sure
ly the Great Teacher has looked low
ingly upon her devotion in it's hum
BILE sphere, and to her He has said
with gentle welcome and approval,
"Thou hast been faithful in a few
things; l will make thee ruler in
many things"
In her school department she was
one of those rare pupils who are su-
perior To teachers and rules. In her
loving regard for her teachers she
was ever so considerable OF their
wishes that no action of hers could
be misconstrued az an infringement
OF needful regulations. Rules were
not for such as she, for who could as
sociate disobedience with her yield
ing, trustful nature? Alwaysin cheer
full accord with the spirit and pur-
poses of the school, she had cultivat-
ed such self-control that obedience
had come to be her second nature.
And such was the guilelessness of her
character that devotion and purity
of intention made her days How calm
ly as a peaceful river. Thus daily
had she approached that divine ideal
whose earthly sojourn taught that
peace can abide amid the severest
storms; thus had she daily found her
path beside the still waters until her
soul quietly stole from it's earthly
tenement and settled into it's eternal
repose in the Everlasting Arms.
While we are led to mourn that the
life of our young friend has thus been
removed from its circle of friendship
and love, we rest assured that the
flower thus rudely plucked will come
to it's higher fruitage in another
realm. The Heavenly Father needs
workers in the land beyond, and who
50 fitted to carry out the Masters
behests as one whose earthly life was
so beautifully loving and oDedient?
Who is better prepared to learn from
the riches of heavenly wisdom and
glory than the quiet, studious search
er for earthly knowledge? Thus may
she live in two realms, there in low
ing waiting at the Fathers right
hand, ever serving, ever learning;
here in the hearts and memories of
schoolmates, friends and loved ones,
for as the days pass the Ivy of time
will make more beautiful the tablet
consecrated to the earthly memory OF
Emma Schmitt.
L. NJ. S.