The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-13

valley stretching east and west, reared his for
lily and lived his real hfe;-at his heartstrings
death had been clutching for many months. Paio
and weaker he grew, moon after moon BraveIv
patiently, he struggled for life until finally 6e
now fed for refuge to the hospital where far
from home, and with no loved one near, he sud.
denly sank and breathed his last!
Back then on laundering train and through icv
air to our station and then across country nine
miles in the face of flying and freezing
blast, and then as darkness fell-the lfeess form
followed by devoted sons. came under the home
roof for the last time It a black night-tbe
oakweod fire blazing all through the house was
not merry, but dirgeful the wind sweeping
through the forests on the nearby hills sang
funeral song; and dolorous was the ripple of the
river over its shoals. A black night and backer
within our hearts than without our home.
And blacker still was the ensuing day-that last
day we looked upon his face. Friends came from
near and far to show us that our loss was theirs
And when the man of God-friend of the cofined
dead with whom he had wrought and rested and
laughed and supped and worshipped- when he
had delivered his message, the procession came up
to the Graveyard Hill and here on that bitter
winter day the lamented dead was laid to rest
in the faith and hope of grave-bursting, life
restoring, family uniting yet-to-be.
So here he lies unlaureled, but not unloved
content with belonging to earth's omnipoten
mediocrity of faithful workers. a husbandman
who kept his farm in order, improving his acres
year by year; lover of his family for whom he
toiled and sacrificed to the point Of physical ex-
haustion and financial means; believer in educa-
tion and determined that his children should have
better advantages than had to him;
member and supporter of the church by his
ample, influence. and offerings. though never by
public service; living primarily for and IN his
children, giving two sons to the ministry a third
to the cause of Christian education, the fourth
and fifth to his chosen profession, and commit
ting his two little daughters in their mmaturity,
to the care of God and of their mother.
And now the Graveyard Hill is richer, infinitely
richer than before. So let us keep down
the grass and weeds; clear back the underbrush;
trim out the dead branches from these trees; let
roses bloom and ferns grow and shrubs adorn;
keep it in order, for the Graveyard Hill is now
like costly containing sacred dust.
Up the slope next to this January grave there
is vacancy, reservation. whoever may die, 1or
just one,-and well know who expects to occupy
it! For, three summers ago, we stood here TO-
gether, she and I. and she said with choking
voice: Il want to be laid right there by his SIDE
And she waits; waits for Death who separated
them to reunite them again, their spirits III the
summerland of the soul and their bodies here on
| the Graveyard Hill.
see her form is bending; the lines of her face
are deepening; the gray is appearing on her tenn
pies; the rich, quiet, toilng years behind her
and she is ready for "the rest that remaIneth'
for, as truly as Mary of Bethany, "she hath done
| WIldI sue COu1u DuG, OIL IIldJ SLe 11LSOA A0A7
the home she has hallowed. there to greet her now
| scattered but annual Homecoming children ana
bear them up to God in her mighty prayers
| Undying be that grave, and unchiseled the marOe
| that shall mark it, yea, for many and many
year!
And so national shrine at Mount Vernon
| the sepulchre of our great Southern chettaln'
| the statue of our Carolina commander are noc
| SO much to me as these humble unsung graves Oh
my unambitious dead; and more to me than beau,
| tiful Oakwood or peaceful Belleview is and ever
shall be this mountain-shadowed, valley-oVerlooN
| ing, treasure holding Graveyard Hill