The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-08
PASSING OF FRIENDS
WM. O'CONNELL, OF CANADA,
WRITES TOUCHINGLY OF
LAKE COUNTY FRIENDS
DECEASED.

Neptune. Sask., Can, Jan. TO-
Special correspondence: On opening
your welcome paper TO read, OF late,
|, with deep sorrow, saw therein an
announcement of the death of Mr.. G.
w. Shirley, who for year / lived a
near ~neighbor to in that part Of Lake
county known as Orland township.
| said | lived as a neighbor, but now
as this good man has passed to the
great mysterious beyond, it seems
that he was more than a neighbor TO
me. Yes, to recall the past, it seems
a brother, too, has gone, nevermore
to see or talk with in this world, and
if ! ever get to see my friends remain
ing in Lake county again, | will have
another grave TO go to see and say
goodbye TO he who now does not hear
my voice, but who, we trust, is happy
in the better world on high. May
those nearest and dearest he leaves
behind bear up under their loss
knowing their loss is heavens gain.
| have at time seen accounts i'm your
paper of the death of others hat |
knew, which caused sadness to come
uDOu NE, lOI we nOlu Olu dtQudliIt-
ances in sweet memory. and death
seems to bring up the intense love for
those, which, before death. seemed
common affection. AS one by one we
are passing away and from which
journey, sooner or later, there is no
getting out, it is consoling to know
that good lives leave good in the
world to those who follow after
them, and that award awaits them
above, now that their part has been
we'll done here below.
While | love and can never forget
our many friends in the locality
which was for years my home and
where / spent so many pleasant days,
| often think what is said in regard
to a chinaman longing to go back to
China after living for years in some
foreign country, to spend his last
days in the country where he was
born applies not only to myself, but
many others from the states, who
came up here, as they thought, 10
better their circumstances, but not
because they preferred to live here.
Still this does not seem here a for
/ tlEn country. Ever w ltI6 lGCtG di&
states people. Farmer. business man,
professional man, laborer and ranch
man have come in numbers from the
states and now form a large percent
age of the population of western Can
ada, and though they have their
homes here, do not forget the glor-
ious land of the stars and stripes.
Indeed, we are not without the stars
and stripes here. As an example,
when one buys a sack Of flour. made
by the Weyburn Milling company. he
has the United States flag inter
twined with the union jack, stamped
upon it, and as the laws here are
modelled largely to United States laws
people formerly of the states hardly
realize that they are living in another
country, especially one which is NOM
inally under a king, but which is
practically a democracy.
Well, sending my best regards TO
my friends, one and all, in the local
ity | still feel | belong to, and wish
ing | we're down there, if no longer
than to say a few words TO and shake
your hands, | now close before you
get too weary of my writing, as you,
after all, may not think as much of
me as | do of you down there on
Lake county soil, and especially can
| never forget those dear ones under
the soil there. Yes, the graves where
lie our departed ones turn our
thoughts to heaven. Sincerely.
VIM. O'Connell.