Arthur Ray Ebner 1900-1901

EBNER, BULMAN, ROWE

Posted By: LA (email)
Date: 2/8/2012 at 11:41:55

SORROWFUL ACCIDENT ON ENGLISH BENCH
Young Child of Mrs. K. F. Ebner Falls From Arms of Its Attendant and Meets Death.
One of those unexpected and truly sorrowful accidents which shock the reader and rend the heartstrings of relatives took place Wednesday morning at the home of Mr. George Bulman on the Bench. His daughter, Mrs. K. F. Ebner, of Cando, N.D., with her four little ones came on the 10th in anticipation of her always pleasant visit with the old home friends. Her youngest child, Arthur Ray, is one and a half years old. Having finished her visit, arrangements were about completed for the return home of the mother and little ones on Wednesday. While some minor details were being arranged, the little boy was given in charge of Gracie Rowe, aged about seven years, who is spending her vacation at Mr. Bulman's, and who was told to entertain the little one till arrangements were complete for the family's departure. After a while she brought the little one in and laid him on the lounge, believing him to be asleep. The attention of Mrs. Bulman was directed to the child which was gasping and the mother was called. Inquiry developed the fact that Gracie had dropped the baby. Dr. Bradley was called by 'phone from Lansing and found the spinal chord fractured. The baby lingered until midnight when the sweet spirit took its flight to the God who gave it.
Sad as is the blow to the heartbroken mother, her grief is no less poignant that that of the grandparents who idolized the little one and of course did all possible for its relief. The news was telegraphed a son of Mr. Bulman whose sad duty it will be to break the news to the father who is now anxiously awaiting the return of wife and children.
Mr. Bulman today accompanies his daughter to her Dakota home with the remains of her child.
A more distressing accident and one calling for such profound sympathy has not occurred in this section in a long time.

Lansing Mirror, Aug. 9, 1901 P 3 C 2

[transcriber’s note: Arthur Ray Ebner was born 12 Jan. 1900 at Cando, N.D., son of Kasper Francis Ebner and Lydia Jane Bulman. Gracie Rowe was the orphaned daughter of Arthur's cousin, James Rowe.]

The sympathy of the community went out to Mrs. K. F. Ebner in the sudden taking away of her youngest child a sweet boy of one and a half years. The sad circumstance of his death need no repeating, and while everything possible to moral hands was done to save the precious life, a higher power than ours willed otherwise. Human words are inadequate and incapable of offering consolation. Those having had the same grief to bear know how deep down in the heart does the pain reach. As we gather up the baby treasures these words crowd themselves into our memory:
Only a dress, a little white dress
With a pale blue bow like a sweet caress.
On the tremulous frills of the dainty dress,
Fashioned by love's own tenderness.
O, it awakens a thrill
And the eyes will fill,
And the heart will ache
As if it must break,
With the agonized pain, the worldliness distress,
That speaks to the soul through his little white dress.
There is the wearer, where is the form
That this little white dress was wont to adorn.
O, arms that are empty. O, homes that are still,
Can ye carry the cross, can ye bead to the will
That giveth and crowneth with absolute joy,
The hopes and the loves that death can destroy.
Leaving only a dress
With its dread emptiness,
Only this silent token
For the hearts that are broken.
No passionate cry nor no passionate grief.
Bringeth an answer that yieldeth relief.
Stop in the stillness, cease to inquire,
Be dead if you can to all earthly desire.
The darkness will flee the peace-light will come,
More luminous yet than all rays of the sun.
A glory, a softness, a strengthening calm,
An answer that holdeth a heavenly balm,
Death is but birth,
Of mortals on earth
To a world of more worth,
The dear one is near,
It blessing you here,
Let the little white dress
Move your soul to confess
The true tenderness
That taketh from sorrow and pain and giveth instead eternal gain.

Lansing Mirror, Aug. 16, 1901 P 1 C 3