Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1904-08-25
MEXICO,
MRS. CHAREs Il. HARDIN.

formerly pastor OF the Mexico First
baptist church, writing Of Mrs. Ex-
Gov. Q. II. Hardin, Of this city, In the
Kansas City Journal, says:
who among us can estimate the
value Of Christian woman to the
business Of our Heavenly Father?
The fame Of Charles II. Hardin has
gone throughout the world. AS jurist.
as banker, as statesman, as governor,
as philanthropist he has honored Mis-.
souri, and the Republic. Asa Baptist
ne has honored the name Of the Lord
Jesus,
But he could not have been the
nan he was without the wife he had.
Meek and gentle, wise and loving, she
enriched his mind and beautitied bis
life. She adorned the mansion when
he was governor. She Travelled with
MIN among the palmettoes and the
mountains. She entertained him with
ner paintings and her music. She
guided him upward until one day in
Colorado he joyfully gave his heart TO
his wife's Redemeer. "a
Through several years was Mrs.
Mary B. Hardin's pastor. never
knew a more devoted student Of the
Holy Scriptures. Her written inter-
pretationsof the New Testament would
make fine volume. She has studied
the gospels and epistles In the Greek
language. When her pastor was GO
Ing away to great Baptist meeting
she placed checks which she bad signed
10 bis possession, saying: i can not
go. You give as you think | ought to
give Herself and her treasure be-
long to the Lord.
81 went to Mexico last autumn when
Uncle William Harper died. spent
awhile then with Sister Hardin. She
had celebrated her 10th birthday. L
asked her to read some Of her writing
to me. She read the following lines
as she had written them. She gave
them to me In her own handwriting.
She does not claim to be poetess. She
did not consent for me to publish the
lines. She may blame me for giving
them to the printer. II you knew
her consecrated life you would feel
the power Of God as you read her
lines:"
Seventy-nine years Of age to-day!
How swiftly glide the years awayl
We cannot stop times rapid stride
That bears us TO the other side.
'Tis ours to work, to watch and pray,
For strength sufficient for each day;
Remembering be who reigns on high
Keeps record as the years go by;
And when our life on earth Is o'er
And we shall reach the other shore,
Before our Maker we'll appear
And read the record OF each year.
More than three-score years have passed
Since /, little helpless child,
Upon the shore Of time was cast
To meet fond parents happy smile.
How many changes time has wrought
How many sorrows it has brought!
But II holy life we live,
And In faith to heaven we rise,
Eternity will surely give
The bliss that time denies.
All unworthy, Lord, i feel;
Before Thee let me humbly kneel
To pray and praise while have breath,
Until l reach Thy courts at length.
May it not be that Thou hast spared
Ny life from dangers thrall,
That may better be prepared
To go when Thou shalt call?
1t may be that, my perils o'er,
This year Thy voice I'll hear,
When l shall date my years no more;
No longer linger here.
Let me forget the things behind,
Like Paul, and onward go,
Until the precious prize win
Laid up for saints in store.
MARY B. HARDIN.
October Q, 1908.