The Davis City Advance, Davis City, Iowa
Thursday, November 26, l898

LOIS B. ARASMITH, daughter of MR. and MRS. HENRY ARASMITH, was born March 22nd, l89l, died Nov. 9th, l898, aged 7 years, 7 months and l7 days.

Thus has another home been saddened by death. LOIS, although but a child, had made many friends who, with the parents mourn her loss. She will be greatly missed in the school and Sabbath school where she had gained the respect of her teachers and classmates. Our loss however, is her gain, in-as-much as she dwells among those of whom Jesus said "of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

-- REV. E.C. NEWLAND.

* Our Dear Little Girl *

How much to lose -- so much to miss,
So much to grieve for day by day;
The clinging arms, the good-night kiss,
The toys to put away.

The music of her merry talk,
That greeted us from morn to even;
The little dimpled feet that walk,
The golden streets of Heaven.

The precious light from black eyes,
The sunny, silken curls to brush
The eager listening of her cries,
The baby grief to hush.

The dainty garments wrought with care,
Through weary hours for love's sweet sake
Are laid aside for one more fair
Than mother's hands can make.

How could we bear this heavy cross,
The loneliness the cruel pain,
Did we not know our earthly loss,
Is her eternal gain.

Though with torn hearts we linger still,
Beside our darling's empty cot,
Thank God, our loved has missed the ill
That fails to woman's lot.

No thorny path for her to tread,
Throughout the coming changeful years,
No bitterness of life to dread --
No bitter binding fears.

No longing for the unattained,
No warm affections blighted chilled,
No spotless name dishonered, stained,
No sweet hopes unfulfilled.

No woman's piercing crown of thorns,
Will ever press our baby's brow;
No starless nights, no sunless morns,
Can ever greet her now.

For ere the touch of sin could blight,
Or sorrow's shadow cloud her way,
God kindly took her from earth's night,
To Heaven's eternal day.

'Published by request of MRS. HENRY ARASMITH.'

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 29, 2003