The leader., 1902-12-10
IN MEMORY OF MRS. MARY JOHNSON
REEVES.

REEVES.
lis sad; yet, oh! so beautiful to see
Christian die. No gloomy shadow,
float across their pathway as they pas
through the dark valley of the shadow
of death; but all is bright and serene
Angel escorts, well acquainted with the
works and ways of God, bear then
safely over the cold Jordan of death
and up the bright, shining way made
sacred by the millions who have gone
on before to realms of pure delight an6
scenes of perfect bliss. Those who are
left behind stand around the dying
tie with tear -dimmed eyes and broken
hearts, full of grief, as they are brought
to realization of the fact that "they
who go are happier than those they
leave behind" Yes,
There's something in the parting hand
viii chill the warmest heart;
Yet, kindred, comrades, lovers friends,
Are fated all to part;
But this I've seen-and many pang
Has pressed it on my mind:--
That the one who goes is happier
Than those he leaves behind.
mo matter where the journey be,
Adventurous, dangerous, far
To the wild deep of bleak frontier,
To solitude or war
Still something cheers the heart that dares
In all of human kind,
And they who go are happier,
Than those they leave behind.
The bride goes to the bridegroom's home
With doubling and with tears;
But does not hope her rainbow spread
Across her cloudy fears?
Alas! the mother who remains,
What comfort can she find.
But this:-the gone is happier
Than the one she leaves behind.
Have you friend-a comrade dear?
An old and valued friend?
Be sure your term of sweet coneourse
At length will have an end!
And when you part-as part you will
o take it not unkind,
Ii they who go are happier
Than you they leave behind!
God wills it so-and so it is
The pilgrims on their way
Tho weak and worn. more cheerful are
Than all the rest who stay,
And when at last, poor man, subdued,
Lies down to death resigned
May he not then be happier
Than those he leaves behind?"
Yes, those of US left behind are sad
when our loved ones are called away
to yon starlit cline above; but why
should we be? This old world of sin
and sorrow is not our home. 1t is but
a temporary abiding place, where we
our journey to that father and better
shore where the weary cease from
troubling and the way-worn pilgrims
rest; where tolls are all over and tears
are never shed. Blessed thought!
When some one dies whom we
know but little about we give it moth
ing more than a passing thought, while
the busy world moves on in the mad
rush for supremacy; and all is soon
forgotten. Not so with those we have
known and with whom we have been
intimate for many long years. With
such there are ties of affection, love
and friendship binding US together and
growing stronger as we journey on in
the pilgrimage of life; and nothing but
death can sever them. Even then they
linger in memory's golden shrine as
fond and blissful recollections of days
gone by. But oh, how uncertain is life
and how certain is death!
On Saturday night, Sept 18th, 1902
the Pickering lamp of life of one OF
Gods own hand maidens went out on
earth, only to be rekindled more trans,
cendently, gloriously bright, where
congregations ne'er break up and Sab.
baths have no end" Yes, she had
fought the good fight; she had kept the
faith; she had finished her course; and
she went home to receive her crown
and hear the "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant, enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord" Sad to give up such
a one? To be sure, but "the Lord hath
given, and the Lord hath taken away
blessed be the name of the Lord
Aunt Mary, as she was familiarly
called, have known from my earliest
recollection, and she always seemed
like mother to me. Fifty two years
ago on the 18th of last June, she was
united in marriage to Ii. w. Reeves,
doubtless, little dreaming of the
long, eventful Journey of life that
lay out before them. Through storm
and shine, their frail bark sailed
bravely on, weathering the storms of
life's tempestuous sea for fifty two
years and three months to day. Their
union was blessed with eleven children
all reaching man and womanhood, ex-
cept one that died in infancy. Twenty
seven years ago last January, they
moved from Pike to Lincoln county
where they have sinceresided.
l enjoyed the happy privilege of pay
ing them pleasant visit last July, and
little did I imagine then that it was the
last time I would be permitted to
see her face this side of the shining
courts of the redeemed; yet, such was
the case. On the night of Sept. 18th
surrounded by the family, relatives and
friends, her soul cast off the tenement
of clay and plotted by angel escorts
scared to its long sought home il
realms of perfect peace, "where sick
ness, sorrow, pain and death are felt
and feared no MORE"
Aunt Mary had been faithful, con
sistent member Of the Baptist church
for forty five years. Three of her chill
dren, together with several Crane
children, had preceded Der to the far
Their and better shore, while eight sons
and daughters and q host of grand
children are left . mourn. She dice
in the triumph Of perfect faith in her
SAVIOR, AFTER a long and useful life Of
sixty=ri' 9 years, Among her last ut
terances, she said her only regret il
dying was having to leave her loved
ones. AS the Pickering LAMP OF life
burned lower and lgvee, she exclaimed
"Yon3eE Qones AIN angel to earry m,
hdmeT CAN'T YOU see itSm EarA Let u