The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-08-24

strong men gather about the casket
and tenderly and reverently bear
her from the home to the hearse,
said that seems to me, glory for
woman, and | had rather have that
come to me as my last reward than
to wear the crown Of q queen. And
who are these strong men that are
these strong men who are little chill
dren? One the Governor Of her be-
loved State, the other member OF
her district IN Congress, another the
member Of the State Senate, anoth-
err a brilliant young physician, and
the others among the largest and
most progressive farmers in the
county. Besides these there are two
charming daughters, both mothers,
the pride of their husbands and the
joy Of their friends.
After the battle Of Waterloo some
one asked Wellington to explain the
victory. He said it was won in Ok
ford and Cambridge, but some said
more truly it was won at the moth
ers' knees in the humble homes of
England. | have heard many at
te1npted explanations of the Kitch-
ms success. Some say it is due to
their father; some say their training
at Wake Forest, and other attribute
it to something else; but If these
strong men could speak out OF their
tears to-day they would all say it is
due to the little woman whom they
call mama.
She had no prayer for herself, but
like the mother Of Zebedee's chill
dren, her prayer was that her sons
might sit on thrones OF power near
their Lord. In some real sense her
prayer has already been answered,
for though her name may not be
mentioned, her life blood has been
transformed into the statutes and
DEGREES Of her commonwealth and
nation. And this honor came to her
because she chose to be g faithful
mother. She lost her life in order
chat she might find it again in her
children. She laid it down that she
might take it up again in them.
Some years ago an humble woman
died and the next day the children
sent around card with these words
inscribed upon it, And great sign
was seen in heaven; woman array
ed with the sun, and the moon under
her feet, and upon her head crown
of twelve stars And the people
said, Poor, foolish children. But
it showed what a mighty faith the
children had in the possibilities of
their mother. This was true Of the
children Of their mother. There
was nothing their mother was not
equal to and nothing Of which SIZE
was not worthy.
She was great in her hospitality
and kindness to the poor. Living II
community known for lis hospital
ity, am sure that none excelled her
in this grace. 1t was her privilege
! to entertain the great, and she did
it with a quiet, unstrained grace
becoming a queen. It was her
pleasure to entertain the poor. &
few days before her death one OF
these was walking with me and hc
said, when our home was broken
up she told my homeless sister that
IS long as she lived she would share
her home with her" ! remember
the last time I saw her, she was sit
ting in her arm chair looking az sev-
eral children playing in the yard
and | said, Are these your grand
children?" ] knew that she was
never happier than when they were
playing about her. She said, mo
they are the tenants children" And
yet they seemed TO be as much a
home as the grandchildren, The
cid darbies have already been saying,
Our best friend is gone" as we
came to this place of the dead they
were gathered in great throncs
along the way, holding their chill
jren III their arms. They eazed
with sad, wistful eyes after the
hearse that bore their friend tc he1
last resting place. ''She s5retchett
out her hand to feed the poor A
man who has known her through all
the years said to me the other day
Only God knows how much she has
done for the poor"
She was great in her faith in God
Hers was not the faith that mounts
upon wings like eagles; it was rather
that which walks and does not faint
It was not that which prayed in the
corners of the streets. but that
which was a secret communion with
Cod. It was not the noisy stream
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