Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1915 — The Voice of Our Dear Departed One. [ARTICLE]

The Voice of Our Dear Departed One.

(In memory of Lucy Healy.) My dear loved ones, cease your weeping.;. . Since your Lucy has gone to rest I ain not dead, I am only sleeping On my loving Savior’s breast. Oh, how sweet it is to rest here Free from earthly pain and care, Never more to feel life’s troubles Never more to shed a tear. Could you know the joys of Heaven Which my soul possesses now, You would thank Him for his mercy To your fate you’d meekly bow. In His mercy Jesus called me Now to be forever His. In exchange for earth’s cheap treasures He has given me Heavenly bliss. Yet your daughter is still near you Though you may not see her smile, Near her parents, sisters, brothers, Their lone hours to beguile.. Now a word to my companions And my loved friends tried and true Keep in mind the one great moment Which will call your spirit, too. Make good use of ever'y talent Given to you from above Whether working, singing, praying, Or some other act of love. Let ea«h word and deed and action Be an honor to Has name. May your Judge find nothing wanting And your God find naught to blame.

An account will be demanded Of each action left undone That might honor God the Father Or His dear begotten Son. One great thought was so consoling, That my voice I dared to raise In God’s holy sacred Temple To Him oft in hymns of praise. For I knew though frail and feeble God had given me the g'race. What could justify then my neglect, When I met Him face to face. Guard the health which God has given Shorten not your days on earth. Let e’er prudence be your watchword, Use your time for what ’tis worth. For you know that your frail body Is the temple of your soul Which was given to its keeping, For the grave is riot its goal. It will share in the same glory, It Will reap what it has sown, Which will be the joys of Heaven If it worked for God alone. Let then flee all empty pleasures - For the sake of Him who died „ On the Cross to be your ransom And Whose heart is open wide. To embrace and- be the Refuge Of all those, who to Him pray Begging, pleading, Him for mercy For their last, their dying day. He will then, with His sweet Mother And your guardian Angel dear, Come to- take you. home forever There their friendship to renew. Mow companions, oh the feast-day Of Christ’s Mother sweet and pure, Raise your voices in her praise, And her protection you’ll ensure. For when Christ in bitter anguish W'as dying on the shameful tree Abandoned by His other creatures She shared His shame and agony. She will then in death’s sad hour Beg the grace that you may say: Help me, Mary, my sweet .Mother, Dearest Jesust near me stay. xx