The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-05
OBITUARY
Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Cole.

The true end and aim of obituaries is
not 70 beneht or praise the dead. but 10
admOnish, comfort and stimulate the
living 70 nobler deeds and higher and
hoher living, by putting before them
the virtues, deeds and examples OF tbe
noble dead, for their imitation and in
spiration. IL would be difficult. indeed.
TO over-estimate the good influence of
the biographical sketches Of the excel.
lent of earth, in elevating human char.
acter and conduct and in the uplift of
society. For this reason, no doubt. the
Bible itself is largely series of bioO.
rapnes OF patriarchs. prophets and the
heroes OF faith, eliminating in the best
and highest biography of all. the re-
corded life, deeds and death Of Iesus OF
Nazareth. With the end in w men.
toned IT seems eminently ~ : to put
on record the long, useful Z : eauti-
ful life of Mrs. Sarah Eli7- Cole
who died February %. 1910. ft-e.te SSth
year of her age. Mrs. Cole. who was
Miss Sarah Elizabeth Carpenter. was
born IN Spotsylvania county. Va. Sen
TENDER 18th, 1872. and when only 81.
teen years of age, on the 9Th of No
vember, 1887, was married to Counsel
Tor Cole and came to Fredericksburg 10
live, where she spent her long and use
full life and died leaving behind her a
fragrant memory. In her early girl
hood she professed faith in Christ and
united with the Baptist church. of which
she was an honored, beloved and ex-
emplary member at the time of her
death. She was truly a veteran in the
Kings army. having been in his service
three-quarters of a century. But now
she has received an honorable discharge
from the army militant TO ioin the
army triumphant in heaven. Nv &C
quaintance with Mrs. Cole began more
than half century ago, when | was
her guest. From that time on | have
ever found her TO be the same gentle
modest, quiet, Christian woman. Her
am liability and dignity were inherent
and never forSook her. Nothing could
betray her into boisterness or nois,
complaining or fault-finding. She wa
a woman of very refined taste and feel
ings. Her refinement of taste wa
shown in many ways. especially in he
love for and care of flowers. Not ever
the weight and infirmities of nearl,
four score and ten years, could dimin
lsh her love for and personal care Of
her flowers. Her love for flowers ma,
be well expressed in the language of thu
poet, Ballow:
sweet letters OF the angel tongue,
I've loved you long and well.
For mine is the old belief.
That midst your sweet and bloom
There is a soul in every leaf.
Mrs. Cole was also very domestic il
her tastes and habits. She loved he
home, over which she presided witt
great neatness and dignity. She was /
faithful wife and devoted mother
She felt that she was commissioned o
God to rear her children in the "nur
ture and admonition of the Lord" an,
well did she fulfill her mission. 1t wa
her JOY in the evening of life TO see al
of her children Christians and well set
tied in life.
She leaves behind her four dutifu
and atfectionate children to sorrow owe
her death, viz: Mrs. Z. ID. Cole. Mrs
Georgianna Scaggs and Mr.. c. 4. Cole
OF fredericksburg, and Mr.. b. +
Cole, of Washington, ID. c. Beside
these children she leaves seven grand
children and six great-grandchildre
and large circle of friends TO sorrow
over her departure. But they hav
more cause for submission and thank
fulness than for sorrow in that she wa
spared to them so long, and at the clos
of long, useful and beautiful life lei
them the heritage of a good example
a good name and fragrant memory
The righteous shall be in everlastin
remembrance. " Precious in the sigh
of the Lord is the death of his saints.
7. S. Dunaway.
| Observation-Disclosures w