Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-12-25

# brain and body will not detract, but
engthen our lives, when used for an
,levating influence. The command, to
abor for the elevation of human kind
s not to chosen few however, but to
avery intelligent being. But these aged
as they approach the con-
ines of life often seem to reflect upon
hose around them, something of
The glory and blessedness of the heav-
emily world to which they are hasten
ing.
OF such, it has ben said, that their
closing days of life are going up in
the mount of vision, rather than q de-
cline into the vale of death We quote
from Wordsworth:
"Thy thoughts and feelings shall not
Nor leave thee when gray hairs are
nigh,
A melancholy slave,
but al Olu aye, StTeIe anu uTlSu',
And lovely as Lapland night,
Shall Iead thee to thy grave"
The more we sink into the infirmities
of age, the nearer we are to immortal
youth. All people are young in the
other world.
And now Dear Mother Stevens to
to you we will say:
You are ninety years of age today,
How long your life has been,
Yet we can scarcely make it seem,
That you're four score years and ten.
Your first ten years were blest indeed,
How fast the years roll by:
No thorns were in yaur pathway strewn
No clouds were in the sky.
The next ten years brought changes,
Death came among the rest;
And removed your brother Nelson dear
Away from the old home nest.
Then year by year brought paintings too
AS you left the dear home fold,
To take the husband of your chuice,
In the blissful days of old.
To you for fifty neeting years,
His faithful love was given;
Aud then he babe farewell to you,
And went to live in heaven.
The years sped stealthily along,
And sprinkled the gray in your hair,
And stole the roses from off your cheek
And wrinkled your brow with care.
You have shared earths joys and pleas
ures,
Also its cares and pain;
Many dear friends have left you,
| And many still remain.
Five children dear, long since have gon'
You mourn their, loss yet know
Your Heavenly Father knoweth best
For you while here below.
There will be glad reunion soon,
When you are gathered home;
To dwell with Christ forever,
Around the gold paved throne.
There to meet the dear loved children
| And the husband gone before,
All to dwell in peace forever,
When life's troubled dream is DER.
i You're ninety years of age today,
/ Just four score years and ten;
Your eyes though dim can plainly see
The dawn of day again.
Like winter suns, that always shine,
God makes your pathway bright:
His love and favor, now are thine,
At evening time, tits light.
i Following is letter from her forme
pastor, DR.. r. ID. Parsons:
MAQUoKETA, DEC 10Th, 1901.
DEAR FRIEND.
j We have learned that the 22nd, o
this month, marks your entrance upol
the last decade of century of life
Allow us to send you greetings. Fo
twenty years you have been called al
old lady. During all this time vol
could have claimed for yourself the re
ward thar wisdom holds in her RICH
hand, and all who know you, far an
near, have all the time gladly ACCORDED
to you the "honor" part of what sh
holds in her left. You have so long an,
pleasantly walked in the Beulah land O
| Christian experience, that the boundar
line of life has been the border line o
heaven. There may be, many ia
younger than yourself who will depar
and be forever with the Lord befor'
you, but whether you tarry long or g
soon, you are the Lords and He "keep
His own in perfect peace" and wi
continue to use you to the praise Q
His glory and continue to fulfill to yo
the promise he made to Abraham, "
| will make you blessing"
What changes you have seen? VIVA
growth of this goodly land? What ad
vancement of the Redeemers kingdom
You have seen your Lord and you
friends say you have been helper t.
many, a succorer of needy people an
causes.
! 1t would stford us pleasure to be pre-
sent at the celebration of your birthday
as this can not be, we would have tn
pen convey our greetings. Our &C
quaintance with You was profitable
4 and is now a pleasant memory. w
are expecting an evangelist to assist i
revival meetings next week. TIL
, children will come home for Christina
except Maud, the oldest daughter, VIII
, is in Denver.
Yours Sincerely,
r. ID. PARSONS.
/
District Court.
al poo