DAVIS, Gladys: Died 1899

DAVIS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/30/2016 at 05:12:09

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Thurs. 23 March 1899

A STRICKEN HOME.
Death of Gladys Davis - Remarks of Mr. Perkins at the Funeral.

Gladys Davis, the older daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Davis, of this place, died Friday, the 17th inst., after an illness of nine days, of pneumonia, aged 13 years. She was a bright, winsome, loving child, and her parents and near relatives were heart-broken at their loss. The funeral was at the Congregationrl(sp) church at 2 p.m., Sunday, there being 300 to 400 people present. The services were conducted by Rev. C.E. Perkins, the concluding portions of whose remarks were as follows:

Gladys Davis was born in Keosauqua, February 21, 1886; and passed to heaven March 17, 1899, a little past noon, being 13 years and 24 days old, when her spirit left one home for another.

The history of these thirteen years is written in the hearts of the father and mother, of the little sister, of the teachers in school and Sunday school, of her playmates, and relatives and close friends. It can never be written upon paper or adequately uttered with the tongue. Yet some things I have been minded to say of this brief life, because in so many ways it was a life good to look upon, and to think of.

A few things every one who knew Gladys, even a little, must have noticed in her: as that she was an exceedingly quiet, modest, well-behaved little maiden. No one ever saw any rough, hoydenish actions with her. You could not even think of such things in connection with her. I saw her ever Sunday, unless she were sick, in Sunday school, and she was always the same in her demeanor. I recall a time, more than a year ago, that in the absence of her teacher, I taught her class; and when I went home I mentioned it as somewhat remarkable, that one child was ready with an answer, to every question that I asked; That was Gladys Davis. In school, Gladys must have been among the very youngest in her grade. She was in high school and had she been spared, would have been graduated at sixteen. Only a few days ago she passed out of her physiology with a high marking.

Gladys, was, for a child, a great reader; and she read with quite remarkable taste with one so young. She cared nothing for trashy books, but was fond of histories, and books containing information. These things indicate a mind of excellent caliber, and we cannot but think had it pleased God to let her stay here, Gladys would have made an unusal(sp) record in her intellectual attainments. Let us not permit ourselves to think for a moment that her education has stopped. God has simply taken her into a higher school.

It does not always happen that the bright child intellectually, is the winning child as to her disposition. When it does so happen the combination of traits is very grateful to behold. In the case of Gladys there was this combination. In her home she was affe3ctionate, with a quiet depth of loving that never varied in its fidelity. Always a kiss, a goodbye, and a wave of the hand, when leaving the house, no matter how short a time she might expect to be gone. Always an inquiry for papa and mama when she came in if she did not at once meet them. Obedience, to her, seemed as natural as breathing. Whatever she was asked to do that she would do without controversy. Looking back over her life her parents are able to say "we can't remember anything that Gladys ever did that was really wrong."

Gratitude was a marked trait in her character, and the father and mother will have many beautiful and touching evidences of this trait to think of in the expressions of thankfulness for everything that was done for her during this last brief illness.

Now I mention these things for I feel that the lesion a because beautiful life, such as that of this little maid, are good for us all to reflect upon. They show how much even a child may do to make the world a place of joy.

And now she is gone. Her sweetness, her winsomeness, her brightness are only a memory. Ah! but what a memory! God be thanked that she lived here in this our world, tho' it was but such a little while.

There are before us the school mates and Sunday school mates of little Gladys. I want you to remember girls, that your friend is not dead, but liveth with God in His heavenly home. And I want you to remember that tho' you may never see her here again, you may see her in that bright world to which she has been taken. Let the thought be an additional incentive to you to live purely, truly, as children of God and followers of Jesus Christ, should live.

And to the parents, the little sister, the relatives of Gladys, what shall I say more than I have already said? Do not allow yourselves to think of Gladys as dead. Think of her as in heaven, as happy in new scenes and with new companions, but as thinking of you still, and loving you and looking forward to the day when you shall come to her. No further hazard can ever come to her. She will know pain no more. In that beautiful land beyond death's sorrowful river, there are joys in living, and advantages that we can only faintly dream of here.

You have a beautiful memory to cherish. Cherish it, and by and by the bitterness of the sorrow will have passed away, for you will have grown accustomed to thinking of Gladys as waiting for you in the angelic world.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 186, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA