Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-11-07
RumoT That Germany Signs ATnistice
-BARTE

There is no flock, however watch
ed and tended But one dead lamt
Ib there, There is no hresids
IHowsoe'er defended, But has one
vacant chair''--Longfellow.
| Thelma Barte was born April 4.
1900 amid the budding flowers and
perfumes Of springtime and died
IOct. 31st 1918---of the dreaded White
Plague and Spanish Influenza.
/ Funeral services were conducted
BY Revs. H. A. st. Clair and Skaggs
NOV. 2, 1918-remains were inferred
at the Baptist Cemetery.
Thelma had been an uncomplain-
ling sufferer for four years and while
she knew that death was near, with
a bravery of heart which is rare
she never mentioned the fact to her
parents for fear of worrying them.
She was ever thoughtful of the well
fare of others even in the darkest
hours of despair requested her near
friends to go on crrands of mercy to
others. She was as watchful and
careful during her illness for the
welfare of others as if she had been
carefully trained for such duties.
She saw almost daily from her
windows and porch her schoolmates
romping to and fro, but yet she
never murmured at her fate-or
complained about her inability to
join them.
Il When it became known that the
ruthless hand of the White Demon
had set his mark upon her fair
young life. No parents ever fought
more CALAMITY for a child's life
than f. A. Barte and wife did. The
scientific knowledge of the best ply
Isicians in America was consulted
sunny chimes of eternal flowers and
sunshine was sought, the best san
atariums in Texas N. C. Va and
w. Va. were tried but all to no a.
vail, Then the awful truth that
nothing could be done except to
watch by her bedside for the shad-
ow of Death to fall in the West,
and relieve her from suffering.
just few days before her death
she looked into her fathers face
with eyes beaming with pleasure
and whispered "Ohl. papa sing" and
with a heart bleeding with grief he
sang full and clear for his dying
girl Crock of Ages on that rock
her faith was fixed and her pure
soul went out to the God who gave
it with the beautiful words Of that
song ringing in her ears. The
steadfast love of a mother was
never lacking during the weary
months which Mrs. Barte spent
with her little girl beneath Magno-
las bloom.
Everyone who knew Thelma Barte
loved her out from the depths Of
the blue of her girlish eyes there
shone a light which drew hearts to
her shrine with magnet of love.
Not because of sympathy of her
long suffering but by the power of
truth adj purity. lis wisely said
"the ripe fruit shall fall first and
as the autumn leaves have turned
to gold and fallen to their eternal
beds Of dreamless sleep and the
beauty of the flowers, kissed by the
frost of autumn have faded and
died God has plucked his blooming
flowers from the fairest gardens OF
earth to be transplanted in heavens
Elysian fields of rest. Through
four years of suffering her gentle
soul was tried in the fiery furnace
OF affliction yet that indomnitable
girl spirit never broke beneath the
test nor did her patient lips curl in
anger to murmur against what
seemed to be the cruel edicts Of
Fate. That same cheerful smile
would always meet and greet yor
like the radiance Of the Bow Of Prom
Use shining through the gathering
clouds Of deep despair. Who, know,
what seems to us but dim. funera
,tapers may be heavens distant lamps
that light the future "for her trust
ed friends who follow on for il
, truth" ali that is born. must die"
r She sleeps out there on the hill
2 bare stones throw from where tn.
body died, beneath a wilderness o.
flowers placed there BY the hand o.
those who. loved her. Sleep on dear
heart those who loved you here still
love you there.
x.