Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-05-11
FROM A DAUGHTER OF SOLOMON
(Susie Revels CaytOn)

the cnapel or an undertaker'S establishment.
And as | sat there in silence my spirit was
quickly imbued with a great sense of peace
for | had suddenly exchanged the glare of
a bright Summers day for the mellow glow
Of shaded lamps, the ceaseless clatter of traf-
tic for an unbroken calm, pregnant with that
suggestive mysterious atmosphere accompany
ing the last rites and services when mortal
man has passed into the great beyond
And as l sat my gaze rested upon casket
in it's softened cover of grey with it's pure
white trimmings with it's carressing folds Of
gauzy tule stayed here and there with flowers
increasing in number till they formed rest
full bank around the receptacle
And l knew that therein lay all that was
mortal of her who was my friend. Time,
duties, obligations shifting scenes and vary
ing responsibilities had claimed us for their
own and so had caused our lines Of life to
diverge-for years | had not seen my friend.
But there were those who had kept in touch
with her and as they passed in by ones and
twos and sat with me in that silent room
amid those floral offerings which all who knew
her knew she loved, an overwhelming sense
of bereavement came over me.
recalled that often I had talkd with her
of just such flowers and their manifold sig
snatched from the fleeing hours, yea Of the
day when she and l would rest from all those
things which hamper, hinder and annoy.
81 am the Resurrection and the Life'' 1t
was the voice Of him who for years had been
her earthly leader And by the binding tears
which sprang to my eyes and the voiceless
sobs which welled from my heart, [ realized
that separation hath not always the power to
quench love.
'Somewhere the sun is shining.' It was
soft, sweet voice singing from vinescreened
balcony And behold with the words came
the Notwithstanding for her; yea, even for
me. Then it was pleasure to hear the speaker
tell Of my friends bright outlook on life of
the good cheer which radiated from her pres
ence, of the cordial hospitality ever extended
to those who tarried by her hearth-side, and
of the fortitude with which she faced her
darker hours. Yea tho we knew it we'll,
it came as cooling waters to thirsty souls, as
healing balms to fresh made wounds.
"When the mists have rolled away" Now
two voices plaintively sang from the balcony
and it so was that the song meant much to
those who loved her. for many years my
friend had been deprived Of her sight, and
thus under scurging Affections had fought
her heroic fight. The mists had indeed rolled
away!
Then it was that we who loved her passed
before the receptacle which bore her body and
thence on out into the bright light off day,
again into the ceaseless clatter Of traffic. And
behold we were quickly separated by the
throngs on the streets, each going his own
way urged ever onward by duties, obliga-
tions shifting scenes, and varying RESPONSE
blities
And I was glad that I had lain aside all
other claims and gone to pay my last respects
to the departed soul Of this friend. Glad to
have had the privilege Of sitting in that silent
chapel, glad to think Of the sun that was ever
shining somewhere. Glad to know that the
provision is great that for all who over
come as my friend had done, the mists would
coll away.
Yea, moreover I rejoced that in our pill
grim's journey thro this land Of soul-trying
preparations, the lines of our lives had, for
a time, touched. That tho she had reached
the commencement of another life in place
,roDaro1 for thOca whO lyaan thn faith T cOu11