Moon, Charlie 1858 - 1871

MOON

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 3/4/2004 at 21:02:24

Cresco Times February 2, 1871

DIED

On Sunday morning, Jan. 29th, Charlie, only Son of M. M. Moon, in the thirteenth year of his age.

After a long and painful illness, such as very seldom falls to the lot of humanity, Charlie is at length freed from his suffering and transplanted to that Summer land where pain and sorrow are unknown.

For months he had been afflicted with a malady that called forth the united sympathy of all who saw him or became acquainted with the facts. The exciting cause was a blow from a ball, under the right eye. He father took him to Chicago last fall and had it removed. His right eye being destroyed that was removed with it. It was hoped that this would stay the malady but it very soon commenced to grow again. After a time it was again removed; when it was found that the check bone was partially destroyed. The second surgical operation proved no more efficacious than the first and it became apparent that Charlie must die. Up to this time he had suffered but little pain, and felt as well generally as usual. He was able to be around the house until within three or four weeks before his death, although he was gradually growing weaker as the tumor increased in size. We had not seen him for some time until after his death, on Sunday morning, and we hope never to be called to witness such a sight again. The tumor covered the whole side of his face making the circle from the nose up above the eye and down by the ear, around the lower jaw and up across the month, measuring across it eight by eight and a half inches, and projecting four or five inches. In removing it, it was found that the bones that it came in contact with were eaten away, considerable of the skull bone having entirely disappeared, leaving the brain exposed. How the boy could have lived so long and retained his reason is a mystery.

He was for some time concious of his situation, and knew that he could not live long. He never murmured or repined, and was perfectly resigned to his fate, willing to cross the dark valley that divides time, on whose borders he had lingered for so short a season, from the untried realities of eternity!

The stricken father has the deepest sympathies of the entire community in his great bereavement. The grass has scarcely yet grown over the grave of the companion of his bosom, and now his only son sleeps by her side. As we have before observed, words of consolation seem cold and incaningless when applied to such a grief as his. The "Balm of Gilead" alone can meet his case.

The funeral was held from the Congregational Church on Monday at half past ten o'clock and a large concourse of neighbors and friends participated in the last solemn rites.

Our brother's heart again is stricken,
There's still another vacant chair!
But oh! although afflictions thicken,
Yield not thy heart to dark despair.

Remember that the Great All-Father,
With overflowing, boundless love,
Will all His precious jewels gather
And set them in His crown above.

And when thy life on earth is ended
Thy sufferings and thy sorrows o'er
Thy songs and theirs may e'er be blended
Upon that bright, eternal shore.