Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-12
DIED OF CONSUMPTION,
Miss Meta Drager Passed to Rest tuesday
Afternoon-Age y Years.

Afternoon-Age p Years.
With the strange words. Il am
dead, still playing about the lips that
gave them in last utterance to human
kind Miss Meta Drager, beloved
daughter Of Mrs. Chas Drager, Gle
south Front street, closed her eyes in
peaceful Slumber, the sleep that is
eternal. Miss Meta had been seriously
i'll, gradually failing in strength and
vitality for many weeks. She was
fully conscious Of approaching disso-
luton, welcomed with true faith the
final moments Of suffering, and gave
to the family full and careful direc-
tionS as to her last wishes and services
desired on earth. Impressiyely, as the
time piece pointed the hour of three
O'Clock and forty minutes, Tuesday
afternoon, January 10. she summoned
her mother to the bedside, clearly an
nounced the end, then dropped back
claSping her hands in sacred union
with the great master of us all. Home,
bright celestial Home is won by an
other in that innumerable caravan.
A loving girl, an affectionate daugh-
ter, a christian by every act Of her
life has departed from us.
Miss Meta Drager, Familiarity known
to SchoOlmates and friends as mabel, "
was born in NARROW, Germany, on the
9th day of November, 1876 At the
age OF seven years she accompanied
her parents to this country and they
settled in the vicinity Of Grand Rap
ids. Miss Meta was confirmed in the
Lutheran church. The parents Separ-
ated some years ago, Mr.. Drager leav-
ing his family of wife and three child
rem to provide for themselves. Ambi-
tiouS to get an education and anxious
to be Of assistance at home in time of
need, Miss Drager sought and found
places in Grand Rapids homes to work
for her board and attend school, while
her mother lived on their farm two
miles out Of town. She graduated
from Howe High school with honorS.
class Of '96: later secured a certificate
to teach and accepted a school, But
sickness prevented her from carrying
on her work Of instruction longer than
three months. For two years she has
been an invalid patiently waiting and
hoping to take up life'S plans where
the thread had broken. But at last
hope gave no further encouragement
to the desire. Turning the nature of
circumstances to best use she became
a minister Of cheer to those about her.
In the purity and sweetness Of her
character, she spread radiance about
the sick room until the life light was
eXtinguiShed as the favorite flower
lends its fragrance to those who come
near Blessed is he who has notfallen
from his hope in the Lord.
Funeral services were held this after
noon, l o'clock at the home, aud then
at the Moravian church in Centralia,
Rev. A. Peterson officiating. Trib-
uteS Of flowers at the burial were eX-
pressive tokens of the high esteem in
which Miss Drager was held by this
community. Principal among them
was a beautiful floral wheel sent by
her school classmates of '96, seven
spolIeS in the wheel to represent the
number in the class, two of those
spoIles broken-one significant of the
death Of James G. GogginS of this
class, the other marking a second loss
in their ranks.
A mother, little sister Lydia and
little brother Herman survive. Deep
sympathy goes out to them from ey-
erV heart in these hours of trial.