Putnam patriot., 1909-12-10
N...a,>j < ARIEL CHILD.


 ABEL CHILD.
 ns.con Abel Child entered into rest - SsT1fday, December Ith. This oft. sa,.ssled and perhaps trite saying ex. H,pSsss the thought of many as we ssrd nf the death of this aged pilgrim. rs- more than four years the taber- Tie of flesh had been burden pa ,.snrly borne, only longing at times sS, the blessed release from suffering sii that it was possible to devise to .a.s The affiiction easier to be borne
 ss done in the unremitting and ,sauvbtful ministrations in the home s,here he dwelt by the son and daugh- l ter and grandchildren.
 N, Child was born in East Wood .,ock. July 27th, 1921. His birthplace ~.s one of the old homesteads which ;s still in possession of branch of the f.mily. The name of Child has been sn honored one in the annals of Wood ssork. Mir. Child was the fourth gene ration from Ephraim Child, the first .ar,er of the name. His death re- moves the oldest of his generation in inc family in this locality. On April , 1851. Mir. Child was united in mar -'sge 10 Miss Ellen NJ. Rugbee of Woodstock by Rev. Jonathan Curtis. He at once removed his residence to tbis parish occupying with his wife me of the Bugbee homesteads. He soon was actively identified with every r,od work in connection with church fife and local interests of the cominun- ny. He was chosen deacon of the First Congregational church in 1862 anu was continued in that office until his death. For many years he was a familiar presence in prayer meeting, and often walked the distance of more than mile that he might be in his place in the mid.week meeting. Fidel- ity in the performance of whatever duty came to his hand was a striking characteristic. This characteristic made him the active supporter of the interests of Woodstock Academy and though not possessed of great wealth his townsmen to the present Endow- ment Fund. His love for this institu- ton made him ready to surmount every barrier in it's highest advance ment and we'll being. For more than iorty years he filled the position of President of the Board of Trustees his name still bearing the title at the time Of his death. He filled various offices of trust within the gift of the town be- ing sent as representative to Legisla- ture and was also Justice of the Peace. MT. Child had four children and is sur- sived by his wife and two of them, a son, Judge C. H. Child of Woodstock and Mrs. J R. Carpenter of Putnam, also five grandchildren.
 As we consider the life of this oc;e- genarian and the fact that there are few remaining who can recall him in his boyhood days our thought is most fittingiy expressed in the following little poem:
 "It seemeth such little way to me Across to that strange country, the
 beyond;
 And yet not strange, since il hath
 come to be
 The home of them of whom am so
 fond.
 They make it seem familiar and most
 dear,
 As travelling friends bring distant
 countries near.
 "Anc 50 to me there is no sting in
 death,
 And so the grave hath lost its victory. It is but crossing with abated breath And white, tense face, the narrow neck
 of sea,
 To find the dear ones waiting on the
 shore
 More precious and more beautiful than
 before."
 The funeral services for MT. Child were held at his home on Tuesday, December 7th, at o'clock conducted by his pastor, Rev. George F. Waters. The wide circle of relatives and friends were largely represented. Many oi them residents in town and also coni- ing from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Providence, Putnam and Thompson. The Academy was closed for the after noon and the Board of trustees were present. They were also represented by . beautiful wreath of English Ivy as a token of respect to their departed president. After the reading of we'll chosen passages of Scripture short address was given by the pastor based upon the words found in Sam. l, 25: "Saul and Jonathan were pleasant in their lives and in death were not di- vided." The significance of these words rested upon the fact of the death of Deacon Chandler within the week and their association with each othef dated from their boyhood. Thetr early homes were within a hail miie of each other. With many common interests theirs was a lifelong friend ship and tin death they were not di- vided." There were many other iacts in the comparison of their lives whieh were of interest to all present.
 E. k. C.