The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-02-01

bility,' that those who knew him best,
delight most to regard such a character
as Tom BOUCHER.
THE friends thou hast and their adoption
Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of
steel"
constituted a life principle with him and
he who could claim the title of friend
or '%neghbor, F" ever found him true, UNI
selfish, generous and responsive. No
hypocrite's hand was in yours when you
clasped that of fom Bouchier's, and in
its warmth and kind pressure, you felt
the beats OF a large and generous soul,
while out of his bright and expressive
eyes, beamed the response OF a sympa-
thetic heart. True charity never appeal
ed to him i'll vain, and fhe sorrowing and
suffering ever had a sympathetic nearer
in the deceased. Willie he made no
boast Of, o did he desire public acclaim
for, his charities, those in want never
left him emptyhanded, and he deemed it
a sad privilege to mingle his tears with
those who monrned.
In his religious life he was as unassu-
ming as he was sincere, and though he
made no claims to superior sanctify. he
was a firm believer III the true and living
God and in the redeeming GRACE of the
Saviour, making it a part of his life and
acting upon The promise, "Inasmuch as
we have done it unto the least OF these.
we have done unto me-" He performed
with zeal and enei : the duties imposed
upon him by his c rrch vows, and whe.
tlier as a member of the Board of Stew
ards, or meekly kneeling at the altar to
receive h eniblems of a vicarious offer
ing and suffering, he was the faithful
follower OF the meek and lowly Nazarene.
Delicaoy farbidB that we enter too large
~ into the sacred precincts OF home-not
that every act, word and deed of Tom
BoUcHIER i'll the domestic circle would
not bear the broadcast glare of the most
blazing light (would to God there were
more husbands and fathers like him ~
but the heafthstone Is and should ever
be regarded as a holy spot dedicated alone
to God and family. III one of those
lonely but beautiful cemeteries which dot
the historic aud poetical Highlands of
Scotland, there is o modest stone which,
after the name OF the u who slept be-
meath 1t, bears the Inscription nihink
all that a son, a husband, a father, Should
Be he was that and more" Could high
er eulogium be passed upon humanity
~ cht oohSliSl CIltllICu 10 II. could
we say more3 If so, imagine 1t said, for
no language con be truthfully regarded
as e~xtravagant in attempting to portray
the love and devotion Of the dead for
those who stood nearest him, and no
sacrifice too great had he been called
upon to make 1t.
The regard III which Ii dead friend
was held by all who with whom lie was
associated or who knew him, was eviden-
ced D,y the many beautiful floral tributes
which were sent to deck his bier, and the
vast ~coucourSe who attended his last OBJ
sequies. Around his grave, at Oak Ridge
cemetery, stood two of his former, and
ms present, pastor, each Of whom deem.
ell it a sad privilege to testify to his re.
gard for his dead friend and the anpre.
cation he had for his loyalty to the church
and his christian character. Others there
werc-old and Young, white and colored
II tear diinmed eyes and saddened
countenance betokencd their appreciation
OF the great loss they, individually. had
sustained and the void'which the death of
the lqnepted would make in Church.
State, Country, and-the Home.
He is not dead but sleepeth ~ No
more on earth will his clarion and elo.
quent voice be heard In the courtroom
pleading the cause Of the wronged and
the oppressed no more will his hand be
stretched out to relieve the distressed and
the suffering; not again shall we meet