Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-11-22
In Memory of Mrs. Alice Il Mutt Wise

Rarely. rarely has one lived among Us
whose death Ton the night of the 18th instant)
evoked such universal sorrow as hers 10 whom
would fsin pay this last tribute Of affection,
tribute that must needs fall short Of poor
words of mine, since none could adequately
portray her worth Yet as a picture is
placed on wall for memory, so would | re-
cord on printed page hat would be forgotten
when we too sleep the sleep that knows no
waking.
Higher than fame, richer than wealth,
more to be valued than any gifts of earth
which perish with the using, was this sorrow
that gathered so many around wOman's
coffin to look their last, through binding
tears, upon the face beneath, and feel earth
poorer for her loss Not one Of us living but
could envy this rich guerdon Of life's ending.
Childless herself the children Of others were
dear TO her; widowed other beirts were conf
iorted. The hospitality that knew no stint;
the kindly greeting that never failed; the
charity that covered faults and saw only the
best in us; all the pathOs OF lives that ap-
pealed 10 her and met response were the out
come of heart filled with the spirit Of kind
ness, the footprints Of her Christ whom
she followed.
And it had been so quietly done this garn-
eiing of affection, attested by tears that knew
no caste. Day by day, year by ear, silently,
|
others, blessed from largesse Of heart, gener-
GUS hand, and as her own physician said Of
her. great soul" For the world is sad
enough to each one of US at times. and we
need the dole of sympathy and kind word
as the hungry need bread She gave that
sympathy. She gave love; she gave encourage
ment when the way was hard and courage
failed she gave her time to her friends. She
held the confidence confded to her keeping,
IS sacredly as if told on knees in prayer to
God Only no one heard of any troubles Of
her own, any more than Of one charitable act
she ever did.(and,who might number them y.
Both were between herself and her Heavenly
ather.
And in her lonelines, for all to whom
the sounds of life are dull, must be lonely,
she walked apart with Him" as the disciples
Of old in the stiffness iof desert. when He led
them there, and in that consecrated Silence
her deepest life was hid. 1t was her uplifted
Cross, borne in perfect scquiscence.
Withal there was no weakness in this good
ness for y stronger personality never made its
ouipt influence left. With her right was
right. aud wrong was wrong with no middle
.Oad of expediency or compromise. And she
had further the courage Of those convictions.
TO he expressed as occasion might arise in
word or deed; word ever crystal true; deed,
the reflex Of her prayers.
AS our tOWnsWOhhn, DO one was better
yerse1 in its history its people. She remem-
bered all her father had told her Of the
generation before her She knew herself,
and loved those who had loved us and whose
names are craven on stones in our cemeteries.
II was rare pleasure TO her to talk Of them
as they lived in years gone by and it was a
greater pleasure to hear them from her lips.
She had followed with husband and father
the cause they espoused, and was in the Con-
federacy from the beginning Of the war TO its
close. Next to her religion was her faith and
love for our Lost Cause. It's leaders, its
veterans, is battle slain and battle SCARED. its
flag, ever dear TO her heart, and no changes
Of time nor circumstance could abate or
modify one iota Of that devotion.
Recalling this brave unsel6sh life. the
fidelity to duty. the faithfalness to every
claim; reviewing its beauty, its completeness,
a. Of some sweet strain of music heard and
never forgotten; recognizing the example be-
queathed; remembering. oh, far and beyond
all, the "recomps nse Of reward" forever hers,
we .bless Thee, we bless Thee for all Thy
servants departed this life in Thy faith and
fear, beseeching Thee 10 give us grace so TO
follow their good example that with them We
may be partskers Of Thy Heavenly Kingdom,
F. B, u.