Epitaph: ...now cold and dead

The grave marker for Sarah Litle (d. 1833) has been skillfully restored. Even though it has lost its weathered character, its story is now preserved for many years, many generations to come.



IN
memory of
SARAH LITLE,
Consort of
Andrew Litle
Departed this life with the hope of the gospel.
Oct. 22^nd 1833,
Aged 28 years 1 month,
and 7 days.

Although Mrs. Litle was no child when she died, her epitaph is taken from the hymn “On the Death of a Child” by Anne Steele (b. 1716, d. 1778).

The once lov’d form, now cold and dead.
Each mournful thought employs:
And nature weeps her comforts fled,
And wither’d all her joys.

But wait the interposing gloom.
And lo! stern winter flies;
And, drest in beauty’s fairest bloom.
The flow’ry tribes arise.

Hope looks beyond the bounds of time,
When what we now deplore.
Shall rise in full, immortal prime.
And bloom to fade no more.

Then cease, fond nature, cease thy tears;
Religion points on high;
There everlasting spring appears.
And joys which cannot die. 

Dublin Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio