The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-08-30
IN MEMORIAm.

CITY REGULATOR.
IN MEMORlAM.
If in my heart there ever came doubt,
dark distrust that threatened TO deform
All the ideals pure girlhood has of man;
This life alone, so tender, firm and pure,
This character, so upright. frank and
true,
Did much to bring me to my former faith.
He had no time to stoop to mean deceits.
But pressing ever upward, ever on,
He strove to build about him such good
deeds
OF JOY and hope and love and charity.
That all who came in touch with him
might see
That he had been with God and learned
of Him."
For this great soul did not for once deny
The source of all his strength; and every
time
When he was sorely troubled, and it
seemed
That he must surely fall beneath the load
Which some perverse and unjust fate had
given,
Did he in secret, lift his heart in prayer.
But though there was a time which SEEM
ed so dark,
The Father came at last with his reward.
And then our friend who had so nobly
toiled,
Looked round in peace upon his cheerful
home;
Four happy years he lived with those he
loved
Sweet comforters whom God had sent to
him.
Now twas his joy to grant their least
desire,
Fulfill their every wish and round them
weave.
A chain of such security that they
Must ever be protected from all harm.
To all who saw. it semed within that
home,
That there could nothing be to mar its
peace.
And so it was till God saw fit to call
That earthly father to his heavenly home.
And after many weary months of pain
Though all was done that human hands
could do
A last there came a night so sad, so dark.
When reason from that strong, reliant
mind,
Seemed fed. and those who watched were
crazed with grief.
But God is good and had not meant that
he,
W., Till -, oor4t, had bean the strength
and stay
OF those who round his bedside sadly
mourned.
Should leave this world for all eternity
without one word to cheer their droop-
ing hearts.
So when the morning dawned fair, calm
and still.
Twas found as If all by one impulse
drawn.
The family all were there; not one was
gone.
Then with peaceful sigh. that spirt-form
On pillows scarcely whittier than his brow.
Win radiance streaming out from those
clear eyes,
Raised both his hands and whispered
words of hope
That fell like balm upon the heart Of her
Who dearer was to him than ali the rest
He told her how Gods call had come to
him
That he was ready now and had to go;
That he must leave them all but for
while,
men they should come and ever be with
him.
Quick summoned he her father to his side,
CONSIGNED to him his only little girl.
Then gave his boy with strong and fear
less words.
Into the care of one who always seemed
More like a younger brother his own
man one who was related just by ties
Which law gave to him by the marriage
bond.
Tho sobbing were all those who stood
around.
A great light seemed to burst upon their
souls;
Thev seemed TO go with him to Heavens
gates.
As blowing kisses from his finger tips.
He softly urged that each and every one
Prepare to follow on the upward way.
He talked with spirit forms gone on be-
fore.
And calling out goodbye" TO those that
mourned.
With Joy and peace upon his radiant
brow.
He gently then and calmly fell asleep
-RFSSTE SMITH