Hugh Ferguson

FERGUSON

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 11/11/2013 at 20:11:22

No more impressive lessons are given to human understanding than those evolved by the great mystery of death. Frequently these lessons are more forcibly presented at the death bed of some poor outcast than at the downy couch where the great and powerful of earth close their eyes forever to scenes of wealth and grandeur. A death of the former character occurred in Spirit Lake the other day. It was poor old Hugh Ferguson. His life had been built of the humblest, lowest order, and let us say in all charity, of the most degrad-ed. His meager subsistence was gained by the rudest toil. A passion for liquor absorbed all his extra earnings. To broil and carouse was the occupation of his holidays. Such domestic compan-ionship has he ever had in this community was in the society of one but little if any better than himself. During the winter poor Hugh suffered much from a lung difficulty, but his hours of pain were passed in solitude. No loving hands ministered to his wants; none of the kindly offices of sympa-thizing friends, so sweet and restful to the sick, were accorded him; a hired stranger alone watched for “the last great change.” No tears fell on his rude coffin, and no mourners followed him to the grave.

Such a death cannot be mourned because the life could not be praised; yet it fills the heart with inexpressible sadness that a fellow-being should be called to face the awful mysteries of eternity under circumstances of such utter loneliness and abandonment.

No source or date given.