The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-10-06
TO THE WIFE AND CHILDREN OF
w. H. THOMAS.

In the soft glow of the early morning
of October I, 1910, rare fall flowers
waited around their rich perfume, and
all nature seemed smiling upon moon
lit world, when the life of w. H. Thomas
was taken in way that to us seemed
cruel but for reasons that we do not
yet know God knew best. He closed
his eyes as little child does, in peace
full slumber and with his head pillowed
upon the heart of his loving wife and
tightly clasped in her faithful arms that
would so gladly have held him here-he
breathed his life out sweetly there.
IT'S sweet to know that during his last
hours he was surrounded by those who
made life fairest and dearest to him,
and in the midst of their tenderest care,
but he has left void which will never
be filled, wound which cannot be healed
till we, too, "cross over the other side"
where God will wipe away the tears.
All! dear one, you were so precious
u
companion you have been for only seven
years.
1t is customary TO eulogize the dead,
but it requires stronger, more gifted
pen than mine to truly portray the life
| and character of Mr. Thomas, great
souled, gentle hearted, sweet spirited, pos
| sessing every virtue that the Savior loves.
His influence fer good will go on and
on while the ceasless ages roll, and ten
| der memories will cluster around his
noble lift for aye.
When we gazed on his coffin form the
last time, and realized that we never
again in this fife could receive from those
lips, message, never an answering smile
or tender hnd clasp, our hearts failed
| within us-a grief so awful in its in
tensity took possession of us it seemed
too great for human endurance, but even
rs our eyes were riveted upon that peace.
full face there came to US as 1t were from
the bordeHand, the memory of almost
4
his last message to us.
We felt that where we stood was Z
holy place. almost toe sacred to mourn
and we could look away from the life.
less clay and see its book of life unfold
and his name written by Gods own 6ng
ers on its fairest pages.
4 t. lsctap.pr r0r,,ae -
strain of the angels song, and we know
our beloved is happy with his dear one.
"gone before" AS we peer into the fu.
ture aud see down the vista of the com
ing years, the fruits of hzs .labors, we
thank Thee Father that Thou -didst per
NIT him to enter cur lives, thank Thes
for his love, his friendship and his noble
life.
Tenderly he was laid TO rest in the
| silent city of the dead at New Prospect
There we left him-not dead-but sleep
ing meath a wealth of rare fragrant
flowers, true symbols of his pure life.
No sculptured stone is needed to blazon
his goodness and his virtues, they are
stamped where time cannot efface them.
Farewell. dear friend and loved one!
We feel your presence lowering near us
out of these shadows we will come to re-
alize that our loss is your and heavens
gain, and in the hereafter when God is
ready for us, we will go to meet you in
the realms where you ever more garner
the tear stained prayers of those miss
yon so.
To the dear lonely wife whose heart
we know is broken our sympathy is too
deep to be expressed. We know that
you feel that part of your own life
10 gone and you can see only the darkest
| side. 'Tis hard to believe that Gods
own hand robbed these little children
of their father and this faithful good
wife of her husband, yet we know that
it was His Holy will. He is too wise
to- make mistakes and too good to be
cruel. Not now, but in the coming years,
it may be in the better land, we'll read
the meaning of our tears. and there,
sometime, we'll understand.
"We'll catch the broken threads again,
And finish what we have begun.
Heaven will the mysteries explain,
And then, ah, then we'll understand,
We'll know why clouds instead of sun,
Were DER many cherished plan;
Why song has ceased when scarce be-
gun.
IT'S there sometime, we'll understand
God knows the way. He holds the key;
He guides US with unerring hand;