News from The Cartersville News

 
The Cartersville News
Cartersville, Georgia
December 12, 1907, page 4
 
Transcribed by:  
 

A Free And Easy Chat

I write this week of one of Cartersville’s oldest and sweetest spirited citizens, a man who has lived and moved among us and our forefathers for nearly ninety years.  I refer to Mr. Reece Coker, who is now quite feeble and has been ill for several weeks.  I do not know Mr. Coker’s age, but his hair is white, his steps slow and his eyes dim.  He has traveled a long and tiresome life-journey, filled with service and sacrifice, but a cheerful and happy hearted journey just the same.

Uncle Reece Coker has always carried a boy’s heart in his bosom.  He has never grown too busy nor too tired nor too old to laugh and to enjoy a good joke.  He sees the funny side of things.  He has ever been a careful optimist.  He is a glad-hearted Christian.  His has been a religion of joy.  His theory has been that “religion never was designed to make our pleasures less,” but rather to contribute to the real happiness of life.

Another beautiful trait in Mr. Coker’s character is his devotion to his wife.  They have made a long life journey together and are now going down the last slope serenely hand in hand.  I was in the home the other day and noted with what tender care the wife wrapped the covers about her husband and how gently she spoke to him, calling him “Reece” and caressing him with her hands.  And Mrs. Coker seems so grateful to friends for any kindness shown her husband in his illness.  She took me by the hand and thanked me for calling and said it was cheering to have friends drop in.

This dear old couple made no complaint of hard times.  They said nothing of lack of money or medicines.  There was no appeal for help.  But they are both feeble.  They have no property and no income.  Their expenses are necessarily increasing.  There are daily demands for things that cost money.  I mention this for a purpose.  There are many kind friends in Cartersville and surrounding community who are really very fond of the quiet old couple and who would count it a privilege to contribute in some way to the comfort of their declining days.

When they “fall on sleep” there will be honest tears shed and flowers will be placed by loving hands on their coffins.  And this will be well.  But there are better things than tears and flowers for the dead and these are smiles and sympathy and help for the living.  A friend called on Mr. Coker last week and slipped five dollars into his hand, saying that might do him more good now than a five dollar floral for his coffin hereafter.  That’s the sympathy of common-sense; the sort that counts and gets results.  A smile now will be better than a tear hereafter.  A dollar now will do more good than a bunch of flowers on the coffin next year.

 

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