Little Mattie Ruth, daughter of W. A. and Athlia Collins, was born October 27th 1886 and died October 14th 1889, after an illness of but a few hours of congestion of the bowels.  She was a bright and beautiful child, loved by all who knew her, and her death has made a void in the home circle that time can never fill.  She bore her sufferings without a murmur, and just before she died, she sang a little lullaby to her little baby sister, then called ma and papa and fell quietly to sleep safe in the arms of Jesus.

We lay thee in the silent tomb,
Sweet blossom of a day,
We had just begun to view thy bloom,
When thou wert called away.

But alas!  Death came,
And wiped from us this little flower,
Just as it began to bloom,
In its low and humble bower.

A purer, or brighter blessing
Was never sent from heaven above,
Than this sweet angelic form,
That we so dearly loved.

Methinks I hear they sweet voice,
Singing that little lullaby,
“I’m going away yonder to mama,
I’m going away up high.”

But we are trusting in the promise
That the gracious God hath given.
When done with the trials of this life,
We will meet you then in heaven.
Mother
 

From unknown newspaper
submitted by Liz Sumner