Rossie Gilson (1879)

GILSON

Posted By: Linda Brittain (email)
Date: 5/8/2008 at 17:14:36

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
August 7, 1879
Page 1

MEMORIAL.
GILSON – Rossie, son of Orrie Gilson, of cholera infantum, aged 18 months and 25 (hard to read) days; died July 2, 1879. (date hard to read)

Dearest little Rossie, thou art gone to rest,
Pillowed upon thy Saviour’s breast;
And by thy Saviour ever near
Enjoying the songs that thou dost hear.

Little Ross is gone, and o’er his grave
I drop many a bitter tear;
Then turn away with heart so sad
That no tongue can explain.

His little hand so plump and fair,
That twined the buds in his curly brown hair,
His lips and smiles grown never dreary
And little feet that would not weary.

And there was a night when sleep had fled,
And pains sped through his little head;
When chills went o’er the fair one’s brow
And the roses grew like lilies now.

And it was Wednesday, oh that fearful day !
When loved ones turned so sad away
And in tones of bitter anguish said,
“Oh, precious darling, thou art dead!”

And oh, that dark and silent room
So sweet with the odors of rich perfume,
Of a little form in the corner laid,
Who was then a little angel played.

Yes, this is the story to you I have told,
Of my little boy, eighteen months old;
Who passed from this dark earth away
To the realms of that eternal day.

He sings the song that has no close –
That deathless song which no one knows;
The song that leaves no memory –
The song of endless victory.

Farewell, farewell, a little While,
‘Twill not be long that we must wait;
We long to see your genial smile –
You will wait for us at heaven’s gate.

- ORRIE