Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-07
A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.

A sweet spirit passed from us into
the unseen with early morning yester-
day. Who that knew Miss Sara j..
Stephan but had come to love her
dearly? Not only for her very works
sake" but because of her lovely char
acter. Thirteen years ago she began
her life work, as a professional nurse,
with Dr.. McMasters. During the years
since her very life has been woven into
the heart-hiStOry of multitude of
homes hereabouts. OF her it has been
truly said, 'She was a nurse born and
not made" Her profession completely
absorbed her, and self sank out of sight
in her love for it. Her unselfishness
gave her a characteristic trustworthi-
ness in which the physician always i'm
plicitly confided. Never did he leave
with her the most minute instructions
but that he felt perfectly confident all
would be done just as directed. Her
memory was simply remarkable. With
a house full of patients she carried
them all and the particular case of each
in her unfailing recollection. She pos
sessed in a. marked degree that courage
so necessary in her profession, and with
it went the rare gift of imparting cour-
axe ana uODelulubSS to LfltF lJdtICLb.
Who that knew her can ever forget
that bright face that was always hers?
Such was the charm of her manner
that when she came into your sick room
she left the impression that you were
her especial favorite. Now, can't | do
something for you?" she would ask,
and, if you knew of nothing, she would
press the question, so anxious was she
TO comfort you. Her touch was soft
ness itself. Many a pain did she just
smooth away. She was just as much
interested in the cases sent to the hos
pital by the Humane Society as in the
richest patient. Each alike had place
in her great loving heart.
Is it any wonder multitudes rise up
to call her blessed? Her room is full
of gifts and tributes received time and
again from those who came under her
care as patients, but went away life
long and intimate friends. Beautiful
is the love-feeling expressed by one
who says: There have been times
when I needed love and sympathy. l
have gone to Miss Sara, and she has
put her arms around me and told me to
sit down in her lap Her love has
helped me more than once.
Somebody has said. Goodness is love
in action" And it was so here. Such
characters are emphatically Godlike.
holy and pure: children Of their Father
which is in heaven. Goodness was hers.
Everybody remarks it. They speak of
it in the home, in the church, in the
outside world. No wonder the close
of such a life was one of peace. She
was the first to suggest that death was
near. And while she expressed a desire
to live longer and help carry on the
work with DR.. McMasters, she was per-
fectly resigned to her Masters will
Turning to the Doctor and his wife,
she said: Il have been so happy in your
home" I'VE cannot spare you" was
their reply. ''No: but the will of the
Lord be done" When asked if a minis
ter should be sent for. she said: Il do
not need minister: Jesus is with me;
but I would like one for mothers sake. y
OF her it may be truly said: she hath
done what she could" and "she is not
dead, but sleepeth." HER FRIENDS.