The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-04-29
MRS. WlllR. HUMPHREY
IS NO MORE.
Coos ANGELS Gated Her From Earthly
tteme Yesterday.

the boauty-l0yers and blessings to
all in need Of shelter and protection
through tho many seasons which,
with their sunshine and storm, have
built themselves into the slender
stem, the arching limbs, the grace
full leaves and, better than all else,
into the fragrant blossoms, thus
making of the whole a joy to all
who passes that way.
It is thus that one feels when he
finds a fallen tree in life's great
forest. And with bowed head he
stands and r~everently mourns be-
side the quiet form Of one whose
years were spent in pure and beau.
tifut and fragrant growth, that
naught might be lacking to any one
who sought the protection and
shelter of those wide arms of that
great heart and true soul.
In the beautiful forest of life
there have grown to perfection many
stately trees. Beside the hard,
rough road, many have fourished
and stretched forth their generous
arms that they might protect the
head of him who passed beneath
them from blazing heat or rigging
storm. And others yet have lifted
high their branches and scattered
from their ever-continuing shower
of fragrant bloom the incense which
has made sweet the air for those
whose way has lain along unsweet-
ened paths where sunshine never
falls. And when q tree like this
has fallen there is grief among those
who, in the days of the past, have
sought and found within its shade,
shelter and comfort and joy.
Such a beautiful gift from the
gardener of life was the stretch of
years which perfected the tree of
which the life of Mrs. Frederika
Hall Humphrey is typical. And as
the changing throngs pass today
the hallowed place where once it
stood and realize that no more they
may linger within its kindly shade,
no longer can they have the stately
perfection of its growth as a model
on which to build their own, that
never again may the fragrance steal
into their hearts to rest and sweeten
its WEAKNESS, there comes an under.
standing of the loss, and they know
that never again in that forest,
though SO many monarchs there
uplift their kingly heads, will
there be one which may be likened
unto this which fell yesterday. But
mingled with the regret there is a
Thanksgiving which springs from
the knowledge that the falling OF
the tree was as its growth had been
gentle, beautiful and without in
jury to any passing soul.
Mrs. William R. Humphrey, the
subject of this tribute has passed
from the scenes of earth, and the
going was for her but the passing
from q happy earthly home into the
homo in Heaven. Sad as the part
ing was for those who are left be-
hind, and desolate as the future
may be for each one of her loved
ones, there has been no signs of
grief or sadness connected with her
passing to that better place where
she will find awaiting her the glo-
rifed throngs. Unhappily we have
come to think of the chamber of
death as a place where there can be
naught save bitter grieving and
floods OF burning tears. The sa-
cred scene within that quiet cham.
Der and beside the couch where she
lay, was an inspiration to he who
shared its privileges and a blessed
proof of the beauty of that faith
which even causes death to lose its
terror.
In the death of Mrs. Humphrey
an ~irreparable loss has been sus-
tanned, not only by her loved ones.
but by that wider circle of her life
which her good deeds Influenced.
A woman of her exalted character.
her beautiful nature could not fail
to exert q benefcent influence. To
him whose pathway she has bright
ened with the sunshine of her love.
life seems to hold little save mem.
Dries, now that she is with him no
more.
The funeral services ueIe held
from her residence on Lamar street
from whence her remains were TAX
tn i .iffln RoCR fodov o$ OAK