J.J. HINER

HINER, STRONG

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 1/2/2002 at 21:07:14

Leon Reporter
January l7, l895

In memory of J.J. HINER, only son of JACOB
HINER, of Decatur, who died
at Modesto, California, Jan. 7, l895, aged 48
years, 27 days. His death
was caused from heart disease and dropsy.

Above the pines the moon was slowly drifting;
The river sang below.
The dim Sierras far beyond uplifting
Their minarets of snow,
While round him shadows gathered faster
In a dark and dusty pall.
>From the clustering pine and cedar
A silence seemed to fall.

He dying whispered, I shall be soon
Beyond the frost chain and the fever.
Beyond the rockwaste and the river,
Beyond the ever and the never,
I shall be soon in love, rest and home,
Lord tarry not but come.

But he was gone from this strange world of
ours;
No more to gather its thorns with its
flowers,
No more to linger where sunbeams must fade;
Whereon all death's icy fingers are laid,
Weary with mingling life's bitter and sweet;
Weary with parting and never to meet.

It has been said for all who die,
There is a tear,
Some paining tender-heart to sigh.
O'er every bier.
But in that hour of pain and dread.
Who did draw near.

Around his humble bed,
And shed one farewell tear.
Who watched the fast departing ray
In deep despair.
And soothed the spirit on its way.
With holy prayer.

What mourner round his couch did come,
In words of sorrow and woe,
And follow him to his long home,
Solemn and slow;
When lying in his earthly bed,
In icy sleep.

Who then by pure affection led
Did come and weep.
Who will by the sunlight implant a rose upon
his breast,
And bid it cheer his dark repose,
His lonely rest.

Could we but know where he is sleeping
Low in the ground,
One faithful heart would then be keeping
Watch all around;
As if some gen lay shrined beneath
That cold sod's gloom.

'Twould mitigate the pangs of death,
And light the tomb.
But a lonelier fate is ours,
A far deeper woe.
>From all he loved in youth's sweet time,
He was called to go.

Strangers drew round him his pale robes of
white,
In that dark spot
To sleep through death's long dreamless
night,
Alone but not forgot.
With hearts bowed down by sorrow,
We humbly ask of Him,
In Heaven we all may meet,
Dear brother Jim.

--KATE STRONG.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
January 2, 2002
*This so touches my heart...