Ralph Sunbeam, youngest son of Mr and Mrs C. A. Mumaw, died of membranous croup, December 28th, 1905, aged 4 years, 7 months and 7 days. His little body, surrounded by lovely flowers, and sleeping peacefully in the white casket, was followed to its last resting place in the Vienna cemetery by a large number of sorrowing and sympathetic friends, where Rev. Ayers delivered a comforting and helpful address, and then we could do nothing more but turn sadly homeward and leave him in the little city of the dead to his quiet rest.
"Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep
From which none ever wake to weep."
Of the loneliness and heartache in the home he left so desolate, I scarcely dare touch the subject. Words cannot convey the depth of it. Only those who have passed through the same can estimate it, and then, not by language of tongue or pen. The parents, whose hearts are torn by this parting, dear little Lloyd, who has lost his precious brother, his playmate and companion, the near and dear friends who will miss little Ralph, his bright loving ways, his sweet smile, his little voice over the phone, when he talked so lovely and quaintly to Grandma. Oh! it is hard to think that this is all ended, that his short life is over, but he is still your "Sunbeam" to light your way onto the blessed home where you will once more be reunited and where suffering and sorrow cannot come.
Our love for thee was great,
Our loving boy;
Perhaps it was too great
For thee, dear boy;
Removed, we love thee yet.
And never can forget
Thy smile affectionate,
Beloved boy.
We mourn the early loss of thee,
Dear boy,
But cannot ask thee back,
Oh, no! dear boy.
God knoweth what is best,
He took thee to his rest
In Jesus' loving breast
To endless joy.
A Friend.