The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-07
In Memory of Little Linda Belle
Spence.

In this world of suffering, we frequent
ly come across that which, in it's pathos,
goes far beyond the things we find in
books In the story of the ''Bondman' by
Hall Came" we are told of how Steven
Orrey decided it was best 70 take the life
OF his little 5olden haired baby, Sun-locks.
Consequently, he would drop the little
body into the ocean and so, while under
the great sun, red in it's setting, they
sped on over rhe soft glow o. the waters.
and as the lay died, the little one sait.
his prayers The father asked if he did
not want to go to Heaven. Ittl" sun
locks said, mo, father, | would rather
seep with YOU. Yesterday again was this
child like devotion to father and mother
witnessed in the death of little
Linda, the beautiful seven-y ear-old
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. G. NJ. Spence.
Sometime before leaving mother. who
was too i'll to accompany her to the hos
pital, and who was tearing like The
disciple of old, as they entered the cloud
that something dreadful was hanging
over her, she said 70 The little one, Oar
ling, sometimes Jesus takes people 10
live with him away from thaic homes in
this world, AMI 1cat you want TO go aud
be with hiIn.
mo. mother. would rather stay with
you.
The story of her illness, like her life,
was very brief She was born on July
10, 1884. and so was lent to them to
gladden. their hearts and brighten the
home of her parents seven summers.
Amidst the bursting of the new life, as
all nature seems divinely new, this little
tender one turned away and sought her
chamber to lie down and die One week
ago, yesterday, after being brought from
the home of her aunt, Mrs. r. H. Brad
ley she was taken i'll and gradually grew
worse, till on yesterday the faithful ply
stefan said there was no hope for her. II
any at all. it lay in an operation which,
under the circumstances, could not be de-
layed. At o'clock Tuesday she was re-
moved from the home to Rex Hospital,
accompanied by her uncle, Mr.. r. II.
Bradley, and her aunt, Mrs. Breckenridge,
where the operation was successfully per-
formed Slowly but fully did she regain
consciousness about o'clock Tuesday
night But her coming back to life was
only to feel pain, which she said she
coldness, which the little one could not
understand. There was, before her eyes
d dimness of vision which gradually pass
ed into the mists of death. The clocH
struck 2. and the group of friends in the
room witnessed the little ones last SUI
fering. At o'clock the lovely form was
brought back to the heart broken mother
How often have these parents been call
ed to suffer. Previous to this one, they
have buried three of their children, and
now our deepest sympathy is extended tc
them in the loss of this, their only child
Bowed down, broken hearted,
But with patient resignation still,
| While underneath the everlasting arms
are holden,
How sweet to say, My Father not my
will"
Thy form divine and presence so angelic
Frightened every hour of seven swiftly
passing years
/ Why should we weep to-day as those who
have no hope,
And flood the face with these so bitter
| tears.
| We will not murmur, will not hesitate one
moment in cur signing,
For we believe our darling nearer, fairel
and far more safe than in our arms
Yea. she is all the lovelier for her dying
Then lengthen not We years,
Speed on, speed on, We moving wheels o
time;
. Our Father knoweth best: His Wills sub
lime,
! In other climes, wen greet thee, with n
/ more fears.
W. D. HUBBARD.