CONWELL Nellie

CONWELL

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 2/22/2005 at 20:40:04

Little Girl Called Away

Dougherty

One of the saddest deaths which has ever occured in this community was that of little Nellie Conwell, who died at the home of her parents here at about 2 o'clock Friday morning, when Dr. Garvin was called and found the little girl in a very dangerous condition.

Heroic treatment and constant attention kept the waning spark of life aglow, but from the first it was realized that the end was very near, and every method of treatment known to medical science was of no avail, for the little girl was in the grip of urimic poisoning from acute Bright's disease. Dr. F. E. McClone of Mason City was called in consultation Friday night, but shortly after his arrival the deadly flow of poison in the blood had done its work and the little girl was no more.

Telegrams were sent to James Conwell, the father, who was in Chicago and Thomas and Alice, brother and sister, who were in North Dakota, but none of the three could get here in time to see Nellie alive. During her brief illness many loving friends did all possible to ease her last hours and to lighten the burden of the grief stricken mother and sisters, Mildred and Annie, who were at home.

Nellie Conwell who, had she lived until November 14, would have been 14 years of age, was a little girl of far more than usual intelligence; was a general favorite among her schoolmates at St. Patrick's school and gave promise of wonderful beauty-yet, who, when looking upon her sweet face in death and seeing the calm smile of peace, could but feel that she had won a great victory.

Chosen by the Divine Father as one among many, this pure and innocent little girl was called to her Heavenly home that she might be spared the trials of life; the budding human flower was plucked and preserved, rather than torn and scattered by the winds of the world.

Death at any time is sad, and leaves its mark and its lesson in the world, but when we contemplate the passing of an innocent child who has followed the precepts of Christian teaching and has been reared in a home where every influence is for good, and who gives up this life with the assurance of an immaculate soul death is robbed of every sting, and the grave has gained no victory.

Nellie will be sadly missed among her school mates, for at school she was loved by both the pupils and the teachers. Today all the remains to remind them of their loss is a desk draped in black, a book bearing the inscription "Closed Forever," and a ache in every heart whenever the name of their bright, sunny little friend and comrade is mentioned. We understand that this is the first death to occur among the students of St. Patrick's school since the institution has been established.

Funeral services were held in St. Patrick's church Monday forenoon, and all that remained of the sweet little girl, whose short life had been a blessing to all those about her, was tenderly laid to rest with the sleeping multitude whose book of life is "closed forever."

Beautiful wreaths, garlands and banks of flowers bear mute and eloquent witness of the sorrow and sympathy of the countless friends of the Conwell family and of the little one whose life closed so quickly in the springtime of its loveliness.
The heartfelt sympathy of the entire community is extended to the breaved parents and family.