The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1919-02-14
AN OLD LETTER
FULL OF MEANING
THE WRITER PAID AiBEAUTlFUL
TRIBUTE TO HIS FATHER.
"A CREDIT TO HIM.

AHS lV1loNuiS aSttc1 40 ~ Auu VA
meaning and comes so nearly meas
uring the writer's estimate of his
own father, thst space is given it in
these columns. 1t is, perhaps prop
er to state that the owner of the let
ter yields to the request Of The SEN
tinel Editor to publish and it is hop
ed that every reader OF The Senti-
mel win read it-certainly, every
male reader OF The Sentinel will be
made better citizen by a perusal Of
the letter. 1t is an exceptionally
beautiful tribute to the father Of
its writer. 1t has depth Of mean
ing; there is some soul stirring in it.
The Farm, Dee 18th, 1907.
Ny Dear Wardie:
Katy telephoned to Mrs. Rowe some
time this afternoon, and she telephon-
ed me when ! got in from work this
evening. My last news of papa, your
letter of Dec. 1st, stated that he was
in perfect health and told of his trip
to Grenada, Coffeeville, Memphis and
Tupelo. Then the telephone mes
sage.
Well, he was the best man / ever
knew. If should live to be as old
as he did, and know many good men
intimately, believe should still be
able to say that my Dad was the best
man l ever knew. There is God
somewhere, and if there is such a
thing as a man getting to him and be-
ing received by him, then our Papa
is there to night. And that God is
proud of that man; proud 20 be the
God of such man.
"He went about doing good. .
Since have bee mold enough co think
l have been impressed from day 20
day and from year TO year, with the
constant habit and pr;.ct'ce OF benev-
oIenoe and charity that has character
lied my Dad ! have oeen used 10
see him ride rs far, over as bad roads
at as inconvenient hours, 70 visit a ne
gro baby as TO see the county's big
gest planter. | have teen used 10
hearing MIN speak kindly to and OF all
men, emphasizing their good points
and condoning their weaknesses. The
most constant source Of Joy and pl7de
that / have owned throughout the
wears of my life has been the thought
that my Papa was the best T1an ever
knew.
And how sweet it is, nOw that he IS
gone. to feel that he was we'll treated
and happy during the evening OF ms
life. What JOY il brings to think
how Kindly he was treated by those
around him. The lovingkindness that
YOU and Merle and Sister and the
others bestowed on him 1T all times
was not strained nor premeditated,
but came fresh from loving hearts.
Not every old man or woman IS so
fortunate as to retain undlmlnlshec
to the end the love and respect OF
their children and friends
1t is only natural for you 80 feel
with aching hearts that there mlght
have been things that you could have
done for his comfort that you didn't
do: a kinE word when you were silent
or a smile when you didn't smile but
I hope YOU will fight against such
thoughts. You were good TO hml'
good TO him, / know that you were.
don't know how any Of you co"io
have done YOUR duty by him more
nobly than you did.
1t must be awful for You there
in that house wherein ne hVeA
How I feel for you! Katy and VIII
no, fully realize for months TO come
that our first. best and truest 1rlena
;S gone from us forever. But Win
YOU It is different feel for you
Please send this letter to Merle
and sister. IF | should write to them
il would be only n repetition, for
know nothing to say except that the
hest man | ever knew is dead, and
if ever man earned the right to die
and go in search of God, it is my pa
ma I wouldn't call him back TO-
NIGHT if / could. He has fought a
good fight, he has kept the 'ai''
and tonight he is an honored goes'
of his God. Peace to him! we
shall not look upon his like again. ou'
we have memories of him that wa
sxyoat and precious to us throughout
the years of our lives.
If / loved any body, 1t was Dau
IfIever was proud to mention NY
relationship to any man, it was my
Dad. If there is face that VII
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