Tuesday, February 21, 2017

W.R. Cloer on Death of 7-Year-Old Edna Bingham, 1916

“A Tribute to a Little Child,” from the Watauga Democrat in Boone, N.C., Thursday, Feb. 3, 1916

In this moral tillage God cultivates many flowers seemingly for their beauty and fragrance, for, when bathed in soft sunshine, they burst into flower, then the Divine hand gathers them from the earthly fields to be kept in crystal vases in the deathless mansions above.

Thus the little children die, some in the sweet bud, some in the fuller flower but never too early to make heaven fairer and sweeter with their immortal bloom.

When the Death Angel took from their home on Jan. 23 little Edna E. Bingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Bingham of Patterson, her short life’s work was done, she being only seven years, four months and fourteen days old. All who knew her loved her, and life is better, riper, richer even in this hour of bereavement than it was, and we thank God for the light which He kindled and burned with so pure a flame and taught so sweet a lesson. Her earthly ministry was well done, she has helped sanctify and lift heavenward our hearts that break at the sad words, “Farewell Edna.” She is not dead, the child of our affection, but she has gone to that school where she no longer needs our protection and Christ himself doth rule. There is a pair of little hands laid to rest forever more, there are two dimpled cheeks whose rich blossoming is o’er. Death has sealed her little eyes that will no more smile or weep—tiny windows of the soul. Little Edna is only sleeping.
            --W.R. Cloer, Patterson, N.C.

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