The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-08-25

A TRIBUTE TO SISTER"

But gone unto that school
Where she no longer needs our protec-
ton,
And Christ himself doth rule.
In that great cloister's stiffness and Sc
clusion,
By guardian angels led,
Safe from temptation, safe from sins
pollution,
She lives whom we call dead
Henry w. Longfellow.
Another sorrow came into our heart
and another window to our soul was
darllened Wednesday morning when
the spirit of Sister, our eldest daugh-
ter, left its earthly moorings, after how
ering on the brink for days, and was
waited back to the God who gave it.
On the 10Th of July, the day follow
ing her eighteenth birthday, she was
taken slightly i'll, apparently, but did
not develop any alarming symptoms
until Saturday of the next week. The
following Monday she was in semi
coma or dazed condition and remained
in this state until about noon on Friday
of last week, when she became ration
al and the physicians believed with us
that change had occurred that would
result in her ultimate recovery, but
this hope was short lived and by Mon
day it became evident that the poison
that had originated from an inactive
liver had so effected the nervous sys-
tenn that it was doubtful if it could be
eliminated. The heart action became
effected and at eight o'clock Wednes-
day morning she sank to sleep while
surrounded by the family, her grand
mother, Mrs. T.. G. Lyle, and her
great-aunt, Mrs. Ella Kleaver, who
had nursed her so tenderly and faith
fully, and the three physicians, Drs.
Il. S. Miller, w. J. Matthews and w.
j. Miller, DR.. w. X. Vance, of Bristol,
only being absent, who did all that
medical skill could do to avoid this
result.
AS we look back over her short life,
it seems but yesterday that she was
born. How interestedly we watched
the tot enter kindergarten, and then
the public schools, and how proud we
were of her record all through the ten
grades. Then came college days at
Sullins for two years, and on the Both
day of last May she was. graduated
from that institution with record for
study and department that has seldom
been equalled there. She came back
TO us cultured, polished and refined,
thoroughly equipped to live, yet mod
est and retiring, but still our chum and
companion. Today the graduating
dress she wore so proudly a few short
weeks ago has now become her shroud.
If there is anything more terrible than
this in death we can only hope that il
will pass us by. 1t has seemed to us
that we have been sorely tried, when
we have three times before laid away
the precious gifts of God, but it has re-
manned for this occasion to open flood |
gates of sorrow never reached before.
Buoyant, hopeful, happy, prepared
and anxious to live, Ruth stood trem-
blingly on the threshold of life only
for moment, yet long enough to i'm
press her personality upon the COM
and to endear herself to many
in remarkable degree. Lovely in
person, pure in heart with mind
filled with high ideals and soul beau
titled by the love of God, it is small
wonder that she was dear in the home
and admired by the thoughtful ones by
whom she was known,
From casket of childish treasures
we have taken this one More than
three months before she was fifteen
years of age she consecrated her life to
Christ and since then it has been an
to know her. During the
in which she was converted
we found in our pillow one night
note sealed and addressed simply "For
Papa Within was another envelope
sealed and bearing this message, For
40 one but Papa and within this
was this message:
April Is. 1907.
Ny Dear Father:
DO you think you are doing all you
could do for Jesus so that when the
md comes we shall all meet our loved
mes in the city beyond? If you feel
ike it would help you, go to the SER
ice with me tomorrow night. | want
'ou to go. ask you as a loving daugh-
er who does not want to go to heaven