The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-03-19

law. j" Our Father, in his beneficence
has SO arranged Nature in her varied
forms that wind, rain and sun. seed
time and harvest, contribute to the
welfare of His children.
Love speaks and the earth is COW
cred BY her mantle of green; flowers
bloom, rivulets laugh as they seek
tie sea and all young things manifest
an exuberance of joy. A twelve
month is an epitome of human life
The Spring-time, is the period
of great activity, of growth and
assimilation.
Summer is the high noon of life; the
season of repose when one enjoys
the fruits of early endeavor. In the
Autumn, one reaps the harvest from
seed sown in the early Spring,
which were warmed and watered by
noble effort through the years of
discretion. AS rhe SHOWS of winter
warm the earth and hasten the adj
vance of young, growing things,
SO in like manner did the subject of
this sketch nourish and vivify the
principles of truth implanted in the
hearts of the little ones about her
knee,
1t was through love God gave
His children the instinct of parental
and filial devotion, which became
the nucleus of society and the
| foundation of state government,
| Love is the greatestin Earth and
Heaven, "God SO loved the world
that he gave His only begotten son,
that Whosoever believeth on him
should not perish but have everIast-
ing life"
Mrs. Bate early embraced this
belief, taking Jesus for her personal
Savior, and not all the changes
wrought by time and circumstance
could shake her trust; so, when
the end came, she but stepped into
the light of His presence to claim
her heritage of eternal life.
Anna Eliza Stratton was born in
Powhatan County, Virginia, on
the 18th day of May, 1888.
Divine Love removed her parents
from their earthly home when she
was little child they went to
Heaven to render home-like the
mansion prepared for her by low
ing Savior The same love which
took away her natural protectors,
placed her in most favored Surround.
ings.
I She was adopted by her uncle
Col. Sam ssJHobson. Living in af-
Itluence, he hedged her about with
every care and solicitude which love
could devise. Her life was so
breathed upon by love, it is no won
der that she grew up gentle in spirit
and beautiful in person.
In the perfection of her youthful
bloom, she was married to Richard
Lewis McLaurine. He was a man
of elegant presence and genuine
goodness. Two boys were the off
spring of this union. Lewis still lives,
but Eddie met an untimely death in
early manhood.
"Love smote upon the harp of
life," and in the guise of death,
took away this true man and left
the nest fatherless. Mrs. Bate took
her little boys back to the home
which had always been open to her;
and, then surrounded by loved ones
and numerous friends, lived a !
life of. ideal goodness and sim
plicity
In 1868, she was married to Col.
VIM. H. Bate, planter of prom
inence and a christian gentleman
who was already the father of noble
children. AS the fruits of their mar
rage, there were two girls; one of
them, Sara, still survives, the loved
wife of'D. M. Mayors. Little Aura
faded while yet in early childhood.
One day, her brown eyes opened
upon the flowers of Paradise. So,
for a long time, cords Of love drew
the mothers heart HeavenwarG.
For many long years, Mrs. Bate
was widow, but not desolate.
Affectionate children ministered to
her in the language Of love, many
friends enjoyed her friendship and
her unselfish life has been beacon
to other lives to make them more
worth living.
"She hath done what she could
She did not confine herself slmp ly
to working for her own but wider
| field beckoned her to service.
/ She helped in all the benevolent
Enterprises which opened upon her
path. To the Home Mission work
she gave instant aid. To the cry
| from Macedonia. she responded