Maggie O'Malley, d.11 Dec 1885

OMALLEY

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 4/24/2009 at 06:21:20

Williamsburgh Journal, Williamsburgh (Iowa Co.), Iowa, 18 December 1885.

IN MEMORIAN.
DIED;--At the residence of her brother at Parnell town, Dc. 11th, 1885, Miss Maggie O'Malley, aged 20 years.

The deceased was born in Pennsylvania; but moved West with her parents many years ago and located in the vicinity of Ottumwa Iowa, where she passed the best years of her life endearing herself to a host of friends through childhood's and girlhood's varied associations.

It was only as a young lady, educated, accomplished and refined that Miss O'Malley was known in Parnell society.

Just one year at the time of her death she came to Parnell to reside with her brother, but during that short time her many merits, graces and accomplishments have so impressed themselves upon our community that we now part with her as with a sister.

The bright star of our social circle, its radiance shall beam upon us no more! Her maidenly accomplishments, her winning manner, her bright smile, her cheerful demeanor-- all shall be lost to us evermore.

How terrible the grim destroyer, Death! He spared neither age nor sex; neither rich nor poor!

He enters the cabin of the poorest peasant and bears away in triumph the life of a mother, the only barrier between a family of orphans and the cold charities of the world. He enters the gilded halls where wealth and beauty, and [?] sway proclaim the some of terrestial ambition and plucks as trophy the diademed monarch on his throne.

Three months ago the cursory observer would have designated Miss O'Malley the picture of health and undoubted longevity; but no doubt then the seeds of Death were planted, which would germinate to fulfill their deadly mission when exterior agencies should become congenial to such an end .

Miss O'Malley went to Minnesota a few months ago to visit friends. The climate so different from ours in many respects, weakened her vital powers, and she returned home about ten days ago an invalid - returned home to die!

Died and just at the threshold of womanhood! Died when the imaginative pictures of girlhood were about to be realized! Died when earth presented to her its brightest face, its trellised cottages. Its greenest swards, its flowery gardens, it's sunny slimes!

None but him or her who has seen a, fond brother or sister consigned to the grave, at such a period of life as this, can realize its awful significance. The writer has experienced such a loss, and as he pens these lines his eyes [?] with tears.

Miss O'Malley bore her sufferings with a truly Christian fortitude; and although gradually and surely growing weaker entertained a hope that she might be spared to enjoy the beauties of this bright world of ours, which hope was only changed on the last day for a hope of Heaven.

Her remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery at Ottumwa on Saturday Dec. 12th and many were the mourners who accompanied her remains to their final resting place, many going from Parnell.

The writer has no stereotyped obituarie from which to draw enlogiums expressive of moral qualities and religious worth, nor woul dhe use them if he had - those matters being to the All Omniscient and him may not judge. But man can hope, and as a basis of such hope are the domestic, social and intellectual qualities of the deceased.

Those qualities as respects Miss O'Malley had in our community but few equals and no superiors, and we may justly reason that her moral and religious qualities were essential [?] of the others. Our more spirit has wended its flight to the great Unknown; one more pearl has been severed from Life's circlet; one more gem has been plucked from the crown of noble womanhood-- and now, may we hope that the spirit of our dear friend dwelleth in a clime more congenial than ours, where no pains, nor sorrows, nor heart-aches ever come; where the clashing interests of diversified mankind are unknown; where the sunlight of Peace reigneth ever supreme beautified by the presence of the Son of Man sitting at the right of the Gather on the throne.

T.J.S.