The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-07-28
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By ]. l.. POWER.

As a soldier and us a philanthropist,
in bis gentle modest way, the world
will, doubtless, remember Nj. Pryor.
t~hese-such times Us try mems souls
that he lived nobly and served gladly.
1t was in quiet times Of peace among
his neighbors and friends, wherever
there was grief or want or suffering,
that he deemed it his privilege to serve
the living and honor the dead.
And while his life belonged so largely
to that great multitude that needed
him, he never for one moment permit
ted outside interests to mar the sweet
full of all rue fatherhood and tender
ness, a home wherein he labored so
lovingly to fill the place of their Angel
One las he called her in his last writ
ten wordsl, hat those who are left
within it are now indeed doubly bereft.
Could Mr.. Pryor have chosen, / am
sure he would have wished his last
earthly labor and last earthly pleasure
to be for and with the Veterans and
their children.
And so it was.
During the reunion at Louisville, at
which he was a prominent figure, he
labored ceaselessly to make the occa-
sion a happy memory to brighten
future days for old and young alike. 1t
was just after the reunion that he was
stricken with appendicitis, and after an
interval of intense suffering, despite
the utmost efforts of Science and Love
to keep him here, he passed happily
into the rest that remains for the
children of God"
From a letter written shortly before
his illness it would seem that he real
lied the coming change. Certain it is
that he was ready for it.
Calmly be looked on either life, and here saw
nothing to regret. or there, TO fear"
May it not be that, to his waiting
heart, faithful through all these years,
there came. unknown to others, the
touch Of the hand that had vanished,
the sound of the voice that had stilled,'
thus making beautiful, to him, the
calling hence?
1t is a consolation that crowns the
grief of his loved one to SO believe,
and to hope that when that fair June
day unbarred her shining portals the
Gentle Saviour sent His messenger, in
robes of cleaning white, with radiant
diadem, to lead his ransomed spirit to
the land that is fairer than this"
The funeral services in honor of this
beloved citizen were held in Holly
Springs in the late afternoon Of the
last June day; aud it seemed that each
and every one of the many who held
his friendship a precious thing was
eager to show honor to the quiet form
to heap fragrant flowers above him, &c
Irvine fairest garlands for his memory,
and shed the tear Of sympathy with
those he left behind. FROM distant
cities came distinguished men to do hin
reverence. At the request of comrades
and friends his children gave their pre-
cious dead a little while to lie in stats
in the Holly Springs courthouse, wher'
long lines Of grief-stricken friendI
passed by to look their last upon thu
man whose like they shall not 500
look upon again.
As this true knight Of chivalry lay il
his last long sleep, clad in his uniform
his casket trimmed with CONFEDERATE
grey, ''he looked like a warrior takinl
his rest, with his martial cloak aroun'
him." and this cloak that vas aroun'
him was only the dear old flag who's
cleaning stars and bars on CLOWN
crimson surface gallant Sam Pryor ha
followed on many a fierce-fought fielt
and within its sacred folds-fade
now, but furnished, never! he softl
lies, and sweetly sleeps, forever an
for aye.
"A sweeter and a lovelier gentlema
the spacious world cannot again afford
than was my fathers friend and con
rsde, Sam ii. Pryor.
KATHARINE MARKHAM POWER
jackson, Miss, July IL, 1900.