Mitchell, Eliza B. - 1872

MITCHELL

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 10/10/2004 at 21:14:32

Times Newspaper March 28, 1872

The Death Angel has again been in our midst and the shadow of his dark wings has fallen on many a bleeding heart.

On the 19th inst., Mrs. Eliza B. Mitchell, wife of Joseph W. Mitchell, of New Oregon went away to her final home, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn her loss but the cheering hope that it is well with her, mitigates their sorrow.

In life's early dawn she saw the "star in the east" and the "sun of Righteousness" arose for her, and her whole life was spent in doing good. During the last period of her life she endured extreme suffering. For two years she was entirely deprived of her sight, but she passed through her night of distress, as only a christian could have done, while enduring the severest pain she often said that she experienced the joys of religion the most fully and that she felt as if the Savior was standing close by her side and she breathed those sacred words once uttered in Gethsemann "Thy will be done."

She is gone and we miss her, but she has left us a good example, she has shown us how to live, how to suffer and how to die; but her sufferings are over, her night is gone, She left our dark sphere at break of day and we trust saw a brighter morning than ever dawned on her. She saw a glorious sunrise over the eastern hilltops of the immortal land where shadows never gather and death never enters. Rest there bright angel, sweetly rest. Thine is a better home than ours. Thy Savior is surely near thee now. His soft hand is resting on thy head and it aches no more.

Farewell dear friend, farewell for a time, but not forever. A light is shining through the gate of pearl; we will join thee there. Why should we longer mourn for her.

Who once did linger by our side
But in the dark was borne away
Upon the ocean's ebbing tide
She anchored on the blissful shore
Which bounds another brighter sphere
Passed through the city's pearly gates
And though she ne'er will greet us here
No intervening barrier stands
To keep us from her happy home
The angels beckon us away
The Savior would have us come
And see the cheeks once pale in death
A glow with life's immortal bloom
And clasp the hands no longer cold
Which now lie folded in the tomb
O what a sacred joy 'twill be
To meet with loved ones gone before
And hear their sealed lips speak again
To breathe the word "farewell" no more
If Heaven could yield no joy but this
It were a boon of price untold
A dwelling place worth seeking for
Had it no crown or harp of gold
Then let us heed the heavenly call
And live while here for God alone
And when a few short years have fled
That happy home will be our own.

Com.