The Washington times., 1915-12-14
IN MEw.vniAM

sELpiIN-On the ninth of December. 1915,
MAfLA sELDEN, youngest child OF James
M. ,t,y y Selden. passed from, this life at
- Loeise home, in the seventy fifth year
=. o. her age. In her early childhood she lost
her father. All the more fondly TO her sur
vwinx parent did she thenceforward cling
All the more to a mothers many yesrs OF
wioowhood did she give the brisft spirit
sr ga ner energies with a glad unsefshness
ana daughters In the Old Dominion of their
hereditary severence. where like many
Others, amid the fires Of sacrifice which
named around them, they gave the grace of
their own. When the stress and Distress OF
snat trying time had passed. mother and
aaughters must have felt a simiiitudo to
the rum OF their hope In the ruin of their
means. shortly thereafter, In this city
they began life anew: bravely adjusting the
Sspns the diSns s,
Maria Selden was not ignorant of lifs's
sharpnesses. the asperities thereof were un-
reflected IN the clear mirror OF her being;
unaffected, sympathetic, cordial, true For
the one who writes these words the bright
lights Of her fair face and true eyes, her
memory. The healthy glow OF her girihood
which remained In her advanced age. gave
assurance of health Of soul as well as
sympathy with others, OF help to others.
The discipline OF reverse left behind the
OF her breast she drew the continual COM
fort which others drew from her.
For years she and an elder sister, whose
death preceded her own. lived with and
for each other, In an undivided devotion
to their widowed mother, whose life to the
dag OF her death, tenderly they shielded.
They were not hardened. but chastened,
by their trials. In their experience may
be read the moral Of adversely, wherein.
when overcome, may be recognised the
face of a friend, sent for strength and
succor. In dutifui devotion the sisters
found the steadfast anchor Of their peace.
surely. the guardian angel Of life FOR
others gave bonds for both.
When the days Of her pilgrimage touched
three score. Miss Selden felt the need Of
rest from her labors. and sought for and
received admission TO the Louise Home:
felicitousy fashioned by the founder to
be the Home, not of a charity. but Of
graceful hospitality, which the host each
fresh day exercises: 20 that, although. as
we say, he 10 gone from the earth, there
heart blends with the hearts warmed by
st. To this Home Miss Selden came for
the rect and preparation which should be
more and more 'the hitting of self to it's
sphere" The tasks which conscience had
translated duty, her swift sympathies had
translated into Joy Of duty-perceived ny
othars t" be beauty. One OF the direc-
tresses said TO the writer Of this: when
Mics Seiden died we felt that ray Of
sunshine had gone out OF the Home"
Steadfast along her path was shining the
religious light of her guidance. Her life
and her religion were one Self-denial for
others had been written in her life, might
be termed the practical creed OF Il. From
her first davs the church Of her faith had
been the church OF her affections. To this
in her last days she turned as 10 a spirit
patient in pain: although in passing
through the gate OF death she suffered
much pain. Having. In loving trus. ro,-
trust she fell asleep peacefully in his
arms, - awake after His likeness.
LEIGH ROBINSON.