Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-02
C. II A 7

When I put Heart-broken Mothers let
ter In Our Household. little did 1 think
that In the twinkling OF an eye the
angel OF death would snatch loved
ode from our midst, February 9Th, by the
accidental discharge Of his gun my sis
ter's youngest boy was killed.
So many times have written to you
o. his goat, his bird house ana MS
many plans and experiences, and sew
era1 times since the accident I've tried
to tell you Of it. but my pen has re
rxsed me- and the tears have blinded
me. All OF the letters that have come
to Heart Broken Mother have served a
two-fold purpose. We known that our
little boy is where there is neither sOr-
row nor signing We know that ne
viii miss disappointments and sorrow,
that he has found happiness and con-
tent that the things OF earth that vex
the shirt and tempt even the best of
ua can couch him never; yet, oh, the
loueliness the emptiness Of the home
with no roIlicking normal boy in il. The
sorrowing father and mother, the grand
mother, who all summer told me Of his
doings the sisters who loved him as the
apple OF their eyes. even the two-year-
old baby who stood at the windows and
watched for his coming from school, all
long for a touch of the vanished hand,
is forever stflled-
Gods ways are past finding out. We
can only say with streaming eyes and
aaAtng. lonely hearts. Dear Lord. help
u to say thy viii be done on earth as
4 - done In heaven" Jesus WeDt at
the temp OF his friends. our tears are
natural, but we must not let them blind
Us TO our duty TO the living. Sorrow
alone teaches us true sympathy. Only
- Of zar-
row, sickness or separation can really
meet the bereaved on common ground.
I was in the hospital only last week.
visiting a girl who has been there three
weeks, and she said. Il new - knew what
to say 10 sick people. and always avoid
ed them. but after 1 get through this ex-
perience I viii be a different girl. 1 can
say truly that I am sorry and can think
OF ways TO brighten their lives"
There are some who are inclined to
say that Tennyson was wrong in saying
lis better to have loved and lost,
Than never TO have loved at all"
After the great lesson is learned, after
the heart is atturned to love. the fact
that the loved one has been transplanted
70 a fairer home should open our hearts
raw for any word or thought to comfort
US. but the Holy Spirit viii surely come
in and pour balm upon il and as we have
received so viii we give. And as the
years pass we find that more of our
loved ones are in heaven than on earth.
One by one the links that bind US to
earth are removed to heaven, the chain
az this end Grows shorter and shorter
and the ties in h@ven are stronger. But
until the very last IL our duty TO do
our very best, and be our happiest here,
SO that those who are here may find in
Us no stumbling block. but light to help
them over a weary or treacherous way,
a comfort In their hours OF sorrow and
an inspiration when their hopes are at
the lowest ebb.
As / write this Chat 1 know that all
over the land there are hearts as sad.
and lives made as lonely as ours: / know
that from some homes dear ones are
going every day and as Rachel wept for
her dear ones there will always be
mothers who refuse TO be cOmforted. But
we must not sadden the world. there is
sorrow worse than death We must hold
aloft our light even though we give our
own lives TO do so. Let us tighten the
dark place. and in time our own hearts
viii be easier and in the end. be il many
years OF. or near at hand. we will
hear the words: Come ye blessed OF
my Father And when We do. as sure as
you and I are living we shall see and
know our dear ones and shall be with
them IN a land where parting IS not
known
Faithfully yours.
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.