The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Saturday, January 28, 1905
Page 3

On last Wednesday morning Jan. 26 death visited the home of our brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Miller taking from them, their only son, Frank Matlock Miller. For ten days he had been sick, first with la-grippe followed by pneumonia, which developed into congestion of the brain resulting in death within twenty-four hours.

Frank was born in Brownstown June 16th, 1889. With his parents he came to live here seven years ago. Since that time he has passed from boyhood to young manhood. He was a member of the class of 1907 in the High school and ranked among the best students, always doing honest, careful work which won for him the approbation of those who were his teachers. He gathered about himself oy his cheerful, happy way a host of friends for whom he had a love unlimited by any selfish motive. He was a healthy, robust boy enjoying all the sports which appeal to youthful hearts. Although having passed the age where most bad habits are formed he had so far kept himself and his record clean. Pure of heart he was just awakening to the possibilities of the human soul. Clean of hand he was just beginning to realize the greatness of this world's field of usefulness. Fresh and unscarred he stood forth among us like a young David, strong, self-confident, almost unconscious of danger, not having met the giant powers of this world which lead men captive and leave them grinding on the mill of vice and sin. He was permitted to live on the highlands of youth where the pure air gave his soul vision, kept his brain keen and his eyes clear.

His soul not being poisoned by sin still retained its power and when death broke the mortal ties it leaped to the bosom of God, its eternal resting place. Frank lived under the inspiration of high ideals. He planned a broad, independent and useful future for himself.

But these have all faded away. The flower, shall we say, was blighted? Did some worm steal into the opening bud and eat the heart and blight the bloom? Did some inborn canker suffer the life to go on until the bud should appear and then fasten itself upon the flower and wither it, draw out the delicate tints and absorb the scent leaving the life crisp and cold? No! No! The budding life was not blighted by sin. No inborn viciousness seared the upfolding petals of this flower. He was growing in health and youthful beauty. No impurity had left its stain upon him. His life was developing and unfolding in perfect symmetry. But the gardener came his way seeking a perfect bud to place in a golden urn to bloom in the presence of Christ. While Christ looks upon him can we not him say:

“For such as this I gave my life.” Then as He notices the purity and the promise of perfect symmetry, can we not hear him say again:

“Who would not suffer for such a one as this? Who would not die to redeem a life like this?” The gardener has clipped the opening bud and the parent stem stands drooping unable to understand. But we are not like those who have no hope. Our souls are sustained by this consolation and this assurance brightens the future for us. He gave his young heart to God in March 1902 and was received into the church in the following August. He had met the question “What will ye do with Jesus?” and answered it by choosing to follow him. He went not far on his journey until he ceased to follow and went to be with Him who redeemed him with his most precious blood. Heaven this day is richer because he is there. But that heavenly land will be deraer nearer and more real to the father and mother and only sister and all the loved ones from this day until God shall call them also home.

E. C. W.

~Transcribed by: Alexandria Sandlin.