| Bertha Gertrude Janney |
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Bertha Gertrude, little daughter of William T and Hannah E Janney, was born May 25, 1875, and departed this life Feb 13 1884, aged 8 years, 8 months, and 18 days. Her short life was one of rare purity, and while her friends and parents viewed the death cloud hovering near, she saw only its silver lining, and said, "Don't cry, mamma, don't cry. I will get well" At 11 o'clock, Thursday Feb 14, the dark carriage of death, followed by the parents, friends, and neighbors, drove to the M E Church at Wheeling, where the choir, with Miss Jennie Braddock at the organ, rendered a beautiful voluntary entitled, "Ring the Bell Softly." Rev H C Smith, of Montpelier, then read a scripture lesson, after which the choir sang "They're Going Down the Valley." Rev Smith preached with great argumentative power in his peerless style of oratory, from Rev 22 and 23, "And there shall be no more curse." the choir sang "When Shall We meet Again." The tiny white casket, from the ends of which drooped beautiful silver tulips, and bearing on its plate the inscription, "Rest in Peace," encircled by a wreath of evergreens, pampas fronds, and immortelles, was then opened, and the sorrowing friends were then permitted to look for the last time on the form of little Bertha, clasping with her right hand a spray of bergonia and ivy, and with her left her beautiful doll, a Christmas present from her father which she so fondly loved. The audience then passed out to the deep tones of the muffled bell, and repaired to the cemetery on the bluffs of the Mississinewa near Wheeling, where the little caslet was lowered to its last resting place, and Rev Smith closed the exercises with a fervent prayer. A grave by the river under the daisies, Under the star-lit sky: Where the Zephyrs that float from the shore Shall strew the brown autumn leaves o'er Where the form of our Bertha Doth lie. Above the daisies, fair white daisies, Above the smiling sky, In the silver-waved port of the blest, Securely her anchor doth rest, Our darling Bertha no more to die. |
we feel that it is but justice to our neighbors and friends that we extend our heartfelt thanks for their kindness and their very prompt attention given our precious little daughter during her protracted illness. William T Janney Hannah E Janney |