The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-24
IN MEMORIAM
HELEN NEIL HOWARD.
Born June Il, 1927.
Died August Is, 1911.

Died August 10, 19ll.
There Is no DEATH the dust we tread
Shall change. beneath the summer
To golden grain. or mellow fruit
Or rainbow tinted flowers.
And ever near us, though unseen.
The dear immortal spirits tread
For all the boundless universe
Is Life!-there Is no DEATH"
Each life bears its own message to
the world.-it may bring peace, or 1t
may bring pain. The supreme teach
er of all life said. My peace leave
with you. My peace give l unto you"
Peace. therefore is not a negative
condition, it Is the fruit of courage.
wisdom and love. and Is just as pos
sible in this life, as in that which lies
beyond death.
When those We have known pass
beyond our earthly sight. we remem-
Der certain qualities that made up
their personality.
In the presence of Mrs. Howard
| always tSll StHSc Va
The hours l spent with her come
back to me. for we often sat and
talked In the pleasant old room
whose windows opened to the garden.
fragrant with the lilies and roses
planted by hands long since stilled.
These flowers were dear to Mrs.
Howard. as with loving hand she
gathered them for her friends, for
the sick and lonely.
Mrs. Towards peacefulness was
the result of large and generous
nature. for happiness does not spring
from possessions; it is the result of
a wide range of interests.
She held a spiritual attitude that
enjoyed the good of others, that was
glad in the universal gladness, and
that entered into universal progress.
Our friend held life as trust, and
rendered any service needed, not
counting the cost. She desired the
well being of those in her home, and
helped friend or stranger, living I'M
consciously in the great law, that
only those who give, can receive.
Such a nature attracted to itself
many friends, among both old and
young. for those who live the life of
the spirit are not touched by the
years. but are forever young"
Mrs Howard was a real lover of
music and art. and she lived in her
books, they were to her the staff of
life. She cared most for writings
upon religious and psychological sub
iects, for she realized that the other
world is not another place, but an
other view.-that we are immortal
now, spiritual beings, open to unseen
influences that are ever waited to-
wards US She had so long thought
upon the spiritual world, that to her
it seemed as real as this earth life.
For eighty-four years Mrs. How
ard lived in the stately old Neil
mansion on the hill, overlooking the
blue waters of the Kennebec. How
many mornings she has seen the sun
dawn over the eastern hills, as the
day came in, widening like a great
river as it nears the sea.
With happy eyes she watched the
crimson clouds of the sunset bending
over the river until the river itself
looked like a scarlet band on the
green garment of the earth.
Summer after summer she gather
ed the roses and lilies from the gar
den, the old garden made sacred by
those who had lived and died.
ITO life. and death. to the birth and
bridal
The garden has ~iven its lavish best
And for its guerdon each memory
fingers
Along Its walks like a welcome guest.
do, IN {Vna 1t,,rr l.
! Low sings the wind old songs at will,
| Generations have passed and persisted,
! But her their faith and their love live
STILL"
Within her lifelong home Mrs.
Howard has entertained many dis
tinguished in social and intellectual
life, and she has often sheltered those
who were friendless. Aunt Helen
was we'll loved by those who could
truly say to her, II was a stranger,
and We took me In.
Mrs. Howard was interested in all
that concerned the best life of the
town. She loved Its people, its hills.
its trees, the river. She was ever
loyal to the clubs, and we shall new
er forget the sweet, quaint, dignified
old lady who sat among us, her face
lighted with loving appreciation
Her strong individuality, her original
way Of looking at life, her charm of
manner, is the Inheritance she has
left to US.
On the day of her death when Mr..
Nutting tenderly held her in his
arms she said,-"I have dreamed It,
and 1t has come true" What did she
dream? Only the angels know. She
has passed from us, through the pur-
pie shadows of death,-to the Sum
merland of the soul-that land of
which she dreamed. She has found
her new home, for Gin our Fathers
house there are many Mansions. In
this new land she will walk by the
river of life, with those she loved and
In Gods garden gather lilies and ros-
es more beautiful and fragrant than
those that bloomed in the old garden
on the hillside.
ELIZABETH MERRILL.
!