The Green Forest tribune., 1902-12-06
HIS TRIBUTE TO HIS WIFE.
'ouching Editorial by Editor
 Sta ford of SpringdaIe.

E | a lSen of Editor John Stafford of the Bpringdale News on the death of
 Sbis wife is rare expression of the
 Miner feelings of humanity. THE iS TRIBUNE feels that it will do it's aatrons good to read 1t:
 5y Eit tonight in the room to {, afcb l brought her, my bride, years ago; the room
 where our children were born; Kthe room in which many happy Fhours were spent by the little < family whose hearts are now torn and bleeding; the room from (which her gentle spirit was waited s'1ato the beautiful beyond; a room (which will ever remain sacred by e these hallowed associations. Her { ace looks down from the wall s above the sleeping form of our s little daughter whose coming brought so much sunshine to our home, and who had just learned to look up into the face of it's ,, mother and lisp the words, "mamma s darling.o
 Fourteen years! The time has been so short! It tseems but yes terday that we plighted our troth and in trembling whispers spoke of the happiness in store for us when our hopes should come to a realization! And when brought her to my little home, she a girl of seventeen and boy of twen- ty, how proud and happy we were! We were young, and had very
 little of this worlds goods, but future had no terrors for us [Worich did we feel in each others fsWe. For fourteen years and RF3he week we wandered hand in pehnd along life's pathway, pluck Estg freely the flowers of happiness (which bordered the wayside. Years of blessed memory! Noth- ling ever occurred to cause any Ddoubts or misgivings, and our
 faith in each other grew stronger
 as the years passed by. We had
 succeeded in fitting us 8 home
 where we and our children were
 comfortable and happy, and
 where we expected to spend our
 declining years in peace and in
 the enjoyment of each others
 love. But within short twenty
 four hours there is such a change!
 The beautiful ship glides along
 in smooth waters. All is peace,
 and there is nothing to indicate
 the black shadow lowering so
 near. Suddenly the clouds
 thicken, the storm breaks and
 over all there settles the black
 ness of night. The ship is with
 out rudder or guiding hand and
 is buffetted from side to side at
 the mercy of the storm. By and
 by there is rift in the clouds, a
 lioht appears ahead, and guided
 by that light the ship is brought
 into peaceful waters and a safe
 harbor. And so with this little
 family. Suddenly bereft of the
 one around whom the whole
 home-life centered, there seemed "a Ina no futllre. nothing but black despair. A light slowly breaks through the over-shadowing gloom. It grows brighter and brighter. It is the spirit of the gentle one who has gone on be- fore, and who is to show us the way and bring us safely into that haven of rest.
 To Lena, sweetheart of my younger days, the mother of my children, my tender comforter III times of diversity and my gulae and counselor in all thlngs: Peace, sweet peace be unto you! Your works shall live after you. To our children you have oe- oueathed a character pure ana spotless, and my constant prayer shall be that God, in His infinite wisdom, may guide me in direct ing their footsteps in the path von have trod. In future years, after I shall have joined hands with you again, to be parted nc, no more forever, and our children and children s children scan these lines may they be dimned by no tears of regret or remofse' pu1 may they be able to look upward
 ulIe.~, ,x,oll ,,