The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-13
SHE FOLLOWS THEM.
Bertha Thomas Whose Pareuts Died
in February Typhoid Victim.


in February Typhoid Victim.
Miss Bertha E. Thomas died this morn
ing at lilo at her nome, 40 West Sixth
avenue.
The incident of her death is doubly sad
inasmuch as she was but nineteen years
of age and only last February lost both
her parents inside of ten days Mrs
Thomas had been lingering for nearly a
year with tuberculosis and ten days be-
fore her death her husband was Stricken
with fatal case of appendicitis and
died at Stormont hospital the same week
His wife's end was expected momentarily
after this, and came the following week.
leaving three orphan girls, Bertha, Mabel
and Margarine.
Bertha was the elder of the three and
was student in the Topeka high school,
and would have graduated last June but
for the illness of her mother. This fall
she again started to school to finish her
last year, and continued until three weeks
ago when she was taken sick with typhoid
fever. Complications set in a few days
ago which caused her death.
Miss Bertha was an exceptionally bright
student and her classn ates and friends
sincerely mourn her death. Among her
other talents was literary taste and the
a short time after the death of her father
and mother.
TO MY FATHER AND MOTHTR.
BY Bertha f. Thomas
L lie ncdN6nS 1IOWnSQs the WlIQ UeTlSlNc
shouted.
AS mourning sad. we laid him on the
hill.
How could we help but mourn. we, the
tainted hearted.
To see him lying there so cold and
still?
Care free and far from pain, we knew he
wandered,
But she his loved one. fingered tortured
Twas not for him we wept but that from
mother
He the protector and the help was gone
He was so good. so kind, so tender
hearted.
We thought him needed in this world
of sin.
We could not see the Fathers plans in
taking
One whom we needed so. who long had
been
A helper and guide to things eternal,
A friend to all who knew him and a
of whom no unkind word could e'er be
spoken.
Nothing but love and praise, was due
Can censure be laid upon us that we
mOurned him
And all looked cherries, cold and dark
around
That cen the savior's promise scarce
consoled us,
AS slow. they lowered him into the
ground?
But when we left the graveyard's gloomy
stretches
And went again to mother praying still
That We might do our duty without muir
And bend with patience to the Father S
will;
The sun burst forth in cloudless radiance
DER u.s.
AND hope awoke. Gods beaming eye Of
Seemed promising His love and sure pro-
lection,
And care and comfort from the throne
above.
But Ger a week had passed gloom had
enshrouded
Our home again with darkness and
despair;
No room was left for anything but sad
ness:
The world seemed filed with naught
but pain and care,
For mother, too, had left us and gone
higher,
Beyond the stars to realms of joy and
light,
Where all is fair and angels songs in
While We remained in sadness and deep
night
But. 10. the Father comforteth His chill
dren:
He gave us strength to bear our trials
sore.
He filed our hearts with hope and babe
US live on
AS they whom we behold on earth no
more
We know that mother has gone home to
father,
And little sister, too. is waiting there
To me the name of heaven now is
brighter.
The hope of joining them makes living
fair.
Oh, Heavenly Father. keep us when temp
tations
Press round about us, orphaned and
alone;
Strengthen and raise us when We faint
and show us
The path to heaven leading brightly on.
Help us to live as father did, unseIfish,
Giving to others time and talents. too,
Help us to follow mothers gentle teach
ings,
That we may keep our hearts both pure
and true;
And when at length our life work here is
ended,
And our allotted course has all been
run
Take Us. dear Father. to thy home in
glory
And to our loved ones there beyond the