Mary Emma Simpson

• General Notes
  •  Here is the note from the Simpson family Bible published in 1833 that I emailed regarding this morning. The beautiful and carefully created handwriting is definitely that of a female and I believe it to be our Great-Grandmother, Emma Simpson Reid Stephens, describing her Mother, Tabitha Jane Powell Simpson.
    
    My Mother
    
                                    “Let us look hopefully, Not
                                    Lost, but gone before. “ Lost only like the
                                    Stars of morning that have faded
                                    Into the light of a brighter heaven.
                                    Lost to earth, but not to us!
    
                                    In this dark world of sin and pain
                                    We only meet to part again,
                                    But when we reach the heavenly shore
                                    We then shall meet to part no more.
                                    The hope that we shall see that day
                                    Should chase our present griefs away
                                    When these few years of pain are past
                                    We’ll meet around the throne at last.
    
    What have we not lost when she the long loved & only parent was called so suddenly from us.
    Can time heal the wounds in our poor, sad, lonely hearts? No, No, we feel more and more that the loss cannot be filled on earth.
    But if we have a blessed hope of meeting her we loved on earth in heaven. Is not that promise given us by our Heavenly Father.
    
    
    (The following is on the inside of the note)
    
    To the memory of our beloved Mother
    
                    Who loves us more than an earthly parent can love his children,
                    That all our afflictions are but sent us to  better prepare us for the home He has prepared for all
                    Who love His commands & obeyed them.
                    Now have we not much to stimulate us to persevere in doing good that we may attain the prize,
                    The thrice blessed prize of heaven.
    
                    As a kind providence has removed our blessed Mother from earth, we may yet honor her
                    On earth, by doing as she taught us, loving to think of her, and trying to imitate her in all
                    That was good and lovely.
    
                    Oh God help us to be fully prepared to meet her in that land of rest. That land where no more sorrow is felt, no more
                    suffering, no pain, that blessed mansion where all have a haven of rest, prepared by Him who never
                                    willingly afflicted one of “His little ones”.
    
    In addition to the above have also discovered a drawing of Mount Vernon, a childhood lock of uncle Rob’s hair, his Sunday School depiction of Jesus, and two references to a Mr. Brown and the date, 1885. I conclude that Mr. Brown was at First Presbyterian in Washington at that time. The binding of this old Bible is incredible, and I am thoroughly enjoying reading God’s word as it was read by those who are not lost, but have “gone before”.
    
                                    Much Love to All,
                                                    Edward & Sue Reynolds

Details of Mary Emma's family with James M Reed

Details of Mary Emma's family with John Alexander Stephens