Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-01-03
DIR. A. b. SPINNEY

Writes n Letter Concerning his Be
reavement In the Death of his wife.
In letter to the press which has been
published in number Of papers DR.. A. B.
Spinney writes of his recent bereavement
in the loss of his wife and of the services
and fine discourse by Or Julia M Walton
of jackson, and desires to thank the press,
the people of Belding, and especially Of
Otisco, for their kindness, sympathy and
interest.
In closing his letter he says: AT the
close of the services the beautiful babe in
her little willow basket cradle was given
lily christening, the flower of all others
that my wife loved. and the inspired words
of DR.. Walton brought the tears to every
eye in the audience. | held this beautiful
child in my arms and before earthly wit
nesses, invisible witnesses and the risen
one, promised to keep my life pure and
holy and worthy of that chd's love and
confidence; to do all in my power while
lived to unfold its life, educate and develop
and make the child all that she dreamed
it should be.
No one can half imagine my loss. She
first came to me as a friend, next as a
wise counsellor, later she took the place
| in my business affairs ano in sympathy
with me that my daughter had occupied
but who had given her life to another,
| then in the years that was alone with
out the com panionshlp Of wife, and before
could make her my wife she became a
companion and lastly she became wife
and partner in all the fullness and mean
| ing Of these two words. Step by step our
lives grew closer and closer to each other,
till she absorbed all my life, soul and be-
ing. This perfect union, this true mate
ship. was only for ten months and three
days. In these months ! realized all that
| | had ever dreamed that marriage should
| be, all that nave ever dared TO picture
10 the world in lecturing on marriage.
Over and oyer again she toG me that
gave her all The true joy she ever knew
and that should she pass out before | cid
to remember; in letter that she wrotd
TO me only two weeks ago that her mar
rage had not been a disappointment bL;
had been beyond all her expectation OF al
she had ever dared TO hope and she wished
this letter kept that might let her rela
tives and friends know how exalted, true.
pure and holy our marriage had been.
What the little one may prove to be know
not, but | do know this, that If love ano
tenderness and the yearnlng OF two hearts
for one object and aim can develop per-
feet chill. ours must be that. When she
was so suddenly called TO leave me ! was
par alyzed. ! did not know what to do
how to act or how.to go on and could
have sefIshly had my choice and no belief
in future life fear | should have beer
oowardy and severed the thread, but
looked on the face Of the dear little one,
thought Of all the years Of experience tha'
had been mine that the world needed. al
the suffering chat might relieve. the dark
ness that might enlghten. the Greco
bound ! might unfetter, of the ignorance
in our own ranks the frauds and wicked
ness among SpirituaIists that nseded ex-
posing and said. will live. will live t,
strike harder blows for truth, make great
er efforts for the right, do more to enlighteT
and lift up Spirituallsm than eyer before.
My wife died in my arms, breathing he
life out as sweetly as one going to sleep
went to my room, felt her weak an
weary spirit as close to me as It ever wa
In the world. slept for hours and wheI
awoke from that sleep Of exhaustion
felt her with me and more than half {
the time since then have felt her spirit
spiritual presence, and unnumbered time