MARTIN, Clarence Elsworth - Putnam

The following obituary of Clarence Elsworth Martin was written by O. W. McGaughey:

A chain of six links has been broken. The weakest gave way first, but what is weakness here becomes strength in heaven. And while this precious chain of life, which was so closely welded by the bonds of love, was being rent asunder here, yonder in a brighter and happier world was the beginning of a new chain, which, we trust, in time will be complete, never to be rent by the chilly sting of death. Yes, the death angel has been hovering our door for a long time. It entered the other night and took our little Clarence. It seems sometimes that the hand of God is cruel, but no, God is merciful. He has claimed that which is His own, and what is our loss is gain for little Clarence.

Clarence Elsworth Martin was born at Russellville May 8, 1889, and died at Crawfordsville March 30, 1898. His little face was bright and full of promise, but as time went on disease came upon him, whooping cough affected his lungs and consumption wasted him away. For two long years he suffered untold agonies and during the last six months of his life he was scarcely seen outside the house. Yet with all his sickness and suffering he never became impatient, but was kind and loving, more thoughtful for others than for himself. He wept sometimes, but not on account of his suffering, nor because he feared death, but, as he said, because the time would soon come when mamma would have no little Clarence. Yes, he was conscious of the approach of his death; he knew the inevitable, and patiently awaited the call of his heavenly father.

Evening after evening during his sickness his papa and mamma would read and sing to him. This was one of his greatest delights, but of all joys he loved flowers most. He fondled them, caressed them and cooed over them as a dove over her young. His nature was like the flowers, so delicate, so sweet. But the chilly frost of death has come and laid him low. We shall miss him, yet we shall meet him. The same little

Clarence in nature though he will be changed.

Oh, let us think of him as being fairer, brighter and happier yonder than when here, and then we can truly say that “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.”

- thanks to S for this one