Here I laid my darling

and only daughter to rest

on February 16th  1886.

27 years old.

 

     Brady Hill

Quiet airy hillsides

      Where the lilies grow,

Deep and shady valleys

      Where the violets blow.

Under stately tall trees,

      On the high hill’s crest,

Under soft green carpets,

      Here our darlings rest.

 

Where the fitful breezes

      Gently flow along,

Where the woodland music

      Echoes wild bird’s song.

Soft winds sing requiem,

      Waving o’er the grass,

Nature’s life around us,

      Greets us as we pass.

 

Birds sing in the tree-tops,

      Under leaves the nest;

Flowers bloom in profusion

      On the green earth’s breast.

Sweet peace reigns ineffable

      Over lake and wood,

No idle thoughts here enter–

      All is pure and good.

 

No disturbing influence

      Of passion, war, or strife,

No aggressive battles–

      That crowd the path of life.

But of the great hereafter,

      Of future promised bliss–

That beyond us somewhere

      Is a fairer world than this.

 

In the mystic east-land,

      Where the Savior trod,

Blest by sacred presence–

      Is it nearer God?

Than this precious west-land–

      Where we kneel and pray,

And offer our thanksgiving

      For His love to-day?

 

Then we can wait securely,

      And make our lives serene;

Can trust our Maker surely–

      The way, two worlds between.

When by and by He calls us,

      In some sweet spot to rest,

Our tired hearts will answer –

      Surely, this is best.

                  ----S. T. Ranger.

THE   SAGINAW   COURIER

          MAY   22,   1889.