Year: 1866

DIED. in this city January 18th 1866;
ERSKINE HELM, youngest son OF Thos e. anu
Mary Helm aged seventeen years, three mouths and
eleven days. -


Thus died youth of noble character and fairest
promise In the dewy dawn, the rosy flush OF life
he went down to the grave-fell and perished in
the fresh green of Spring, like the young and
stricken tree, the pride and beauty of the grove
Just as the little sails spread, without one
shadowing cloud in the skies, and unwafted still be-
yond the flowery fragrance on the shore, sank and
perished in the ripping calm of bright waters.


ERsKISE HELM was youth of decided and marked
traits of character 1t is fulsOme eulogy to say
that few young men were so endowed with all the
clements of high character. They seemed, even
vouno as he was to have reached that fullness be-
longing to maturer years. character unmistak-
able clear and defined. 1t was not the marble in
the quarry but the sculptor's bright creation and
finished touch character fresh and vigorous, for
there was nothing stagnant or insipid IN the cur
rents of his nature. Tender and gentle as girl
vet in his heart there eagle spirit that could
wing the storms He affectionate, full of it as
| the flower with tint and fragrance and lived and
grew amid its holest ties and loveliest beauties
| He was generous and kind forgiving and brave,
proud as those who are the pride OF honor and
courage with the rich inheritance of an unsullied
name. In his disposition, he open and confd-
ing and in his friendships he was faithful attached,


active and unshrinking, even to death itself. His


soul was free and bright the bright wave that


runs over the sea- and his heart in all its hopes and


passions its dreams and pleasures, unselfsh and


beautiful His mind was active, quick and reten-


tive with capacity to rapidly acquirei and promised
| high order of intelligence. He was fearless, and


truly So because morally and physically brave; in


trepid any that has ever graced the lists of chv-
aIrv He was as full of metal Damascus blade.
| When but fourteen years of age with maiden
cheek and eye as soft and bright, he entered the
| army of the South with all the dash and ardor of
| manhood. There something in the stirring


scenes of the perilous hour that mated with his


spirit Even as the eagle, high up among the cliffs


of his dwelling place, views with joy the sweeping


cloud and with swift wings springs TO ceave the


storm through the dangers and hardships of the


struggle he passed and did soldiers part until


the banner of the starry cross was in the dust


And he too the gallant young soldier. the fond
| and dutiful son. the tenderly devoted brother is,


alas now in the dust That lofty spirit that
} Apollo form and Hyperin grace upon the crest of
honor the light of that soft unquailing eye. and


the heart of noble feeling and quick impulse; the


youth the hope, all, all gone forever So young
and yet so early dead. E82
When the aged and infrm die it is but the passing


away in natures regular order-the dropping off OF
the rpened fruit after the of bud and bloom


has come and gone-the fight of the bird to more
genial skies when winter comeS-the eDo after the
fow-the sinking down of the after the lumin
: GUS spendor of the day-the waning halo of tbs


gold of evening after the sparkling purple of tht


morning and the escape of the soul after the frai
| tenementit it quickened erumbles away. But .wheI
| the Young die-die when full of life, it ou
, | of natures order. Yet Ife's wide waste O
waters whether the melancholy music of their hov
# mHrmur to us amid the shadows Of age the light
f of youth noiseless sweeps the ever ruffng win,
J., of the Angel of Death. And the season of bu'


and bloom will come again the bird viii homeward fl.
to build again when the wintry chill has left tn
IS skies; the tide win return freshening from tn
s. swelling sea and tumble its bright waters at on
d feet and the gold in the west to-day win purple


the east tomorrow; but the spirit that is gone wi
= never come back again


y Then rest noble youth, in thy early grave III
sweet to know that in thy last hours the Christian
{, hope came to wing thy soul to that better an
brighter orld than this Sleep and sleep in peace
n The Wild bird that sings above thee, be its notes
1. feuuiem and lullaby, Sleep and sleep in peace
For bright oh brighter than the stars are the men
= cries that sparkle thy name, and sweeter tina
Is the owera that smile first in the gardens OF sprns
Of are the affectiOns that bloom for thee, u ~
--6Az1Ets5 = = = =