From the 'Mason County News', Sat., January 30, 1892    No. 32    Front Page

Obituary

    We are once more called upon to note the fact that death is abroad in our land.  Twice it has visited us in the past two weeks, claiming as its victims two of  the children of Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Rolston.  The first was little Ida who died the 2 inst.  the next was their little infant Edith, aged 6 months and 11 days.  Ida has been a sufferer for about two years, having been in bed most all this time, she has borne her affliction in a most remarkable and patient manner.  But on new years day she seemed to realize the fact that death was approaching, but which only seemed a consolation to her, calling her parents to her bedside she asked them to bring all her possessions such as toys, playthings and money which she divided among the family, her money to her papa and Mama, and her playthings to her brother and sisters. She told them she must go, and asked them "if they could give her up and not grieve after her?" She told them she "was going home to rest," assured them she "had no sins to account for," and asked her friends to "meet her in heaven."  All efforts to prolong her life were useless, the following evening the long looked for hour arrived seeing she had only a few moments to live she kissed the family a last farewell. Coming to her little sister she said "Good bye, little Ethel," Asked them to "meet her in heaven," then she prayed "God to shorten her breath" and sank quietly to rest. Her remains were buried at 4 o'clock, Sunday evening with very fitting funeral exercises. Her age was 11 years, 11 months and 21 days. But hardly had the tears of grief ceased to flow from the eyes of the loving father, and patient mother, when they were burst forth anew from the sad realization of the fact that their little infant too was called from earth to heaven. For several long weary, weeks, the already heartbroken mother had patiently administered to the wants of the little sufferer, but the hand of death was too firmly fixed, and just two weeks from the death of  Ida, the sweet little babe crossed over the river. The patient christian mother had borne all her burdens with that grace and meekness which characterizes only the true christian.

Dear Mother: Grieve no more for them
  With aching heart and tear stained eyes'
They're now at rest, in that sweet home
  Beyond the bright blue skies.        A.

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