River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-09-07
The nreamIess Sleen

AT the funeral of his brother, Eben
G. Ingersoll. at Washington, a num-
Der of years ago, Col. Ingersoll deliver
ed an GRAFTON at the grave, which was
received by all present with marks OF
deep and sincere feeling. He said:
My Friends: am going to do that
which the dead often promised he
would do for me. The loved and low
ing brother, husband, father, friend,
died, when manhood's morn almost
touches noon, and while shadows still
were falling toward the West. He
had not passed on LIES highway the
stone that marks the highest point,
but, being weary for a moment he
laid down by the wayside, and, using
his burden for pillow, fell into that
dreamless sleep that kisses down his
eyelids still. While yet in love with
life and raptured with the world, he
passed to silence. Yet, after all, 1t
may be best, just in this happIest,
sunniest hour of all the voyage, while
eager winds are kissing every sail to
dash against the unseen rocks and in
an instant hear the pillows roar above
a sunken ship, for whether In mid-sea
or among the breakers Of the farther
shore, wreck must mark at last the
end of each and every life. No mat
ter If its every hour is rich with love,
and every moment jeweled with joy,
| it will at last become tragedy as sad,
and deep, and dark as can be woven
| OF the warp and wool of MYSTERY and
death. This brave and tender man
In every storm Of life was oak and
rock, but in the sunshine he was vine
and flower. He was the friend
| OF all heroic souls. He cllmb bed
the heights and left all superstitions
| far below, while on his forehead fell
the golden dawning Of grander day.
He loved the beautiful, and was with
color, form and music touched with
tears. He sided with the weak, and
with willing hand gave aims with a
loyal heart, and with the purest hand
he faithfully discharged all public
trusts. He was worshiper Of liberty
IA friend of the oppressed. A thous-
and times | have heard him quote the
words, For justice, all places tenn
pie and all seasons summer" He be-
lieved that happiness was the only
good, reason the only torch, justice
the only worshiper, humanity the
only religion, and love the only priest,
He added to the sum of human JOY,
and were every one for whom he did
some loving service to bring blossom
to his grave, he would sleep tonight
beneath wilderness of flowers. Life
is narrow vale between the cold and
barren peaks of two eternities, We
strive in vain TO look beyond the
heights. We cry aloud, and the only
answer Is the echo of our waiting cry
From the yolceless lips OF the unre.
plying dead there comes no word but
In the night OF death, hope sees star
and listening love can hear the rustic
of a wing. He who sleeps here, when
dying, mistaking the approach Of
death for the return Of health, whisp-
cred In his latest breath, II am bet
ter now" Let us believe, in spite OF
doubts and dogmas and tears anG
fears, that these dear words are true
of all the countless dead. And now
to you, who have been chosen from
the many men he loved to do the last
sad Office for the dead, we give hi;
sacred dust. Speech cannot contain
our loye. There was, there is nc
gentler, stronger, manlier man.
A new line OF trunks, satchels, hand