Frances Clarice Hayden

Copied from newspaper articles in a scrapbook owned by Richard C. Schmal, Lowell Town Historian. Unknown source. News article was undated.

OBITUARY

Frances Clarice Hayden, only daughter of Dr. and Laura Hayden, was born at Lowell, Indiana, April 2, 1904, and died at her home in Chicago, Ill., May 14, 1910, aged 6 years, 1 month and 12 days. She was a very patient little sufferer all through her illness. All that loving hearts and medical skill could do was done, but to no avail. She was of a very lovable disposition, obedient, a devoted christian and a regular attendant at the Sangamon M.E. Sunday School and Church, and will be greatly missed by her many friends and relatives.

Her remains arrived by the 10:07 a.m. train Sunday May 15th and were taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Wood, where funeral services were held. Rev. Hicksley of Chicago preached the funeral discourse. Mrs. J.W. Belshaw and Mrs. George Foster furnished beautiful and appropriate music. Funeral Director John Castle had charge of burial service. The following acted as pall bearers: Leroy Kelsey, Merrit Kelsey, Cyrus Hayden, and Grant Hayden. Interment in the new section of the Lowell cemetery. The stricken parents and relatives have the deep sympathy of their friends in this community, in their great sorrow and bereavement.

LESSON TAUGHT MAY 15TH
In memory of our Little Frances

This morning I have built you a city (built of blocks) and while you look at this city, I will tell you about a far more beautiful city. Jesus said to his disciples, "In my Father's house are many mansions, If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

Will there be a city in Heaven? Yes. In the bible we read about a most beautiful city, called new Jerusalem. The streets are of gold. There are beautiful houses for people to live in, and there are flowers more lovely than any we have ever seen.

God has prepared that city for those who love him. I want to talk to you about a garden. Almost three years ago, God gave me a new garden to care for.

You are God's little flowers, and God has sent you here to grow. When Miss Lee and I came out here, we found only a few little flowers in this garden. Our Garden has grown, and this morning we have a garden filled with God's beautiful living Flowers.

Some of our flowers were quite small when we came. But my how they have grown, and how proud I am of my beautiful garden.

One lovely Sabbath Day in the early fall, Oct. 25, 1908, a new little flower appeared in our garden. She was a sweet, fragrant little flower, and we learned to love her soon. Every Sabbath morn we found her in the garden, and we soon learned that she loved the little flowers, and loved our garden too.

She brought the merry sunshine with her, and she helped to brighten the garden with her smile, her love, and gifts. One morning we missed our little sunbeam, and we wondered why she was absent. We soon learned that she was sick. You remember how earnestly we prayed that God might spare her to us, but God's ways are not always our ways, but God's ways are always best.

Yesterday morning at 10 minutes of 4 our first little flower was plucked from our garden, and transplanted to a Garden above.

A little while before she went away, she said "Papa I am going to fly away." "Where are you going Frances" her papa said. "Far, far away," said little Frances. And where did she go children,? yes to Heaven.

Jesus our dearest friend, loved our little flower too, and wanted her in his beautiful Garden above. She left this world in her Papa's arms, and this morning she is safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast. All who love Jesus, will be one of His beautiful flowers in His big Garden some day. But dear little Frances loved Him, and I like to think of her as a little angel sitting in Jesus lap. and listening to His stories, and oh! how she loved stories.

How she loved her little Sunday School papers, and how anxious she was to learn her little verses. Perhaps she is now telling Jesus about her dear papa and mamma, and then I think she will want to recite her verses.

I think she is telling him about her Sunday School. She loved it, and she talked about it, and we know this morning that our little Frances is one of the bright little Morning Glories up yonder.

Think what a comfort she was to her parents, and her grand parents too, how they loved her, How much sunshine and gladness she has brought into our lives. What a beautiful little flower she was.

Six beautiful years (6 candles were lighted by Mrs. Hoke,) and then called her and said "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." We will meet Frances again, and I know she will be ready and waiting to welcome us there. We ask the dear Father to comfort her dear mamma and papa, and all her friends, and may we all be drawn closer to Him. We have one vacant chair in our class today.

(Her little chair was draped in flowers.)

We sang her favorite songs--"Father, We Thank Thee," "When He Cometh," "Jesus Bless Many Little Children," "Like Birds and Blossoms," "I Think When I Read That Sweet Story," "Holy Bible," "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know," "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam."

Prayer by Mrs. Blackburn, teacher.

MISS HELEN ANDERSON.