Obituaries - B

BLACKSTON, James
(Winona Times - March 11, 1881)

At the residence of his brother-in-law residing in Evans in Durant, ______ day the 3rd day of March, after a short and painful illness, Mr. James E. Blackston, in the 21st year of his age.

 

Cut off in the first warm glow of early manhood, moment without warning, so sudden and unexpectedly, that we can hardly realize that he is gone.  But ah, the sad fact is forced upon us in many ways.  We have seen him lying so still, and, pulseless, he that was so buoyant, and full of life.  We have joined in the sad throng, and followed his remains with slow, and solemn gait to the silent city of the dead. We have with our hearts, too full for utterance, stood by the grave, and seen the coffin lowered into its final resting place, and then heard the clods fall with such a heart breaking sound upon the casket that contained all that was mortal of the friend that we have loved with such a pure, and abiding friendship.  Yes, he is going, gone from our sight forever, in this life.  Never again shall we clasp his hand in ours, the hand that always met us with such a warm, and hearty grasp, and the voice that always greeted us with such warm and kindly welcome, is still and silent now, and we are left to weep and mourn for its music that we shall never in this life hear again. Oh!, what so _our for memory, and tears is that when we turn away from the little mound where we have just consigned the mortal part of our best friend. The one from whom our heart held nothing.  No secret that he was not welcome to read, and no pleasure, that it was not our greatest joy to have him share.  How passing strange that only a few, short hours, should work such a wondrous change.  Without a word of warning, the golden cord of life was broken and the playmate of our boyhood, the companion of our youth, and the warm, tried and trusty friend of our early manhood, is taking away from the walks of life, and from the presence of those whom he loved, and that loved him so well.  Gone into the unseen world.  He has paid the great debt of nature that each and every one of us will have to pay when the dread summons comes.  He has solved the great mystery of his nature, gone far beyond the confines of Philosophy, or speculation, and learned the mystery of the spirit life, and perhaps to-day rejoices that he was taken so soon, before the multiplied cares, and troubles of this life, shall have left their imprint on high art.

 

Oh, how devout we wish that we could bring consolation and comfort to the hearts of the bereaved father, mother, sister and brothers of our friend that is gone.  A loving and dutiful son, a kind and affectionate brother, and a warm, true friend; it is no wonder that we mourn his loss so deeply.  We tender the warmest sympathy of our hearts to the sorrowing parents, sister and brothers of our loved and lost friend.

 

An unreadable poem. signed W.S.S.