The death of this young gentleman is thus announced in the Rodney (Miss.) Gazette, of Dec. 14.
Mr. Editor:—In looking over your last paper, I was surprised to find no notice of the death of our esteemed friend, and late fellow-citizen, Thomas C. Drake. A lamentable duty has thus been omitted, not through any neglect or carelessness, nor from the want of proper respect, but doubtless from the belief that among the many who have wept over his untimely loss, some one would pay a tribute to the memory of the deceased.
It was not expected that his relatives, pained as they are by this sad dispensation of Providence, would bestow a thought on the subject, connected with associations so purely selfish. To praise the dead can alone comfort the living, by kindling in the bosoms of the afflicted emotions of pride. The loss in this instance was too great to allow any such thoughts to usurp the place of holier grief; for to those who feel deeply; who have deeply suffered by the rude hand of death, the customary eulogistic notices of the dead are unheeded; yet friendship may be permitted, in the hour of grief, to offer sympathy to the living, and to embalm with the incense of affection, the memory of virtues which should never perish; though the tomb itself may crumble into dust and the earth mingle with his cherished remains.
But a few years have passed since Mr. Drake came among us, radiant with the smiles of youth and health; buoyant in hope—firm, ardent and generous in the pursuit of an honorable independence. As a clerk, he entered his brother’s store in Rodney; and we all remember the industry, politeness and probity which characterized his deportment and won the respect of his acquaintances. The energy manifested in his station as clerk, soon won the confidence of friends by whose aid we find him are long, established as one of a respectable mercantile house in St. Joseph, La. It was about this period, 1849, Mr. Drake was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs; since which time he has lingered with occasional intervals of apparent good health, until some two months ago, when his disease manifested itself in a more fearful form. How fruitless the objects of life, and vain the hopes of man!! To all appearances, not less than three short months since, life to Mr. Drake presented a most enchanting prospect. His disease now slumbered, and health again seemed to sparkle in his eye, and impart its wonted ambition to his cheerful nature. An engagement with an interesting young lady, of Lebanon, O., long deferred on account of ill health, he now consummates. With his bride he leaves his native State to resume his business in the South. Greeted with hope, flowers seemed to spring up in his pathway, and all the future became redolent with bliss; but Death had long marked him for his own; and the cup of joy brimming full was suddenly dashed from his anxious lips, and the silver cord was loosened.
While descending the river, in October last, he was attacked with pulmonary diarrhea, from which he gradually sunk, and on the 24th of November breathed his last at the residence of his brother in Rodney.
Mr. Drake was born in Ohio, on the 21st February, 1826; died November 24th, 1850, aged 24 years, and 8 months.
Thus we see how vain, delusive, aye, treacherous are all the objects of life. God in his infinite wisdom has deemed it best to crush the glowing hopes of our young friend, and to sever the ties which have linked him to his sorrowing relatives—while the solemn truth should be impressed on all, that
“He builds too low, who buildeth beneath the stars.”
FRIEND.