Died “from the shot of a gun”

The tablet marker at the grave of James H. Baker (d. 1850) offers more information than the typical stone. From it we learn that young James was adopted—and that he died from a gunshot wound.

JAMES H. BAKER
the adopted
Son of
A.F. & M.A. M^cVICKER
Died
Dec. 4, 1850
From the shot of a gun
Aged 15 Ys
9 Mos & [2?] da.

The golden bowl by death is broke,
The pitcher burst in twain,
The cistern-wheel has felt the stroke,
The pleasant child is slain.

As you can see, the epitaph is not entirely legible, but the few words that can be read help to identify the source (thank you, Google) and fill in the blanks.

The words are taken from an old funeral hymn (author unknown):

Wake up my muse, condole the lost
Of those that mourn this day;
Let tears distill on every face,
And every mourner pray.

The tyrant, Death came rushing in,
Last night his power did shew;
Out of this world this child did take,
Death laid its visage low.

No more the pleasant child is seen
To please its parent’s eye;
The tender plant, so fresh and green,
Is in eternity.

The golden bowl by death is broke,
The pitcher burst in twain,
The cistern-wheel has felt the stroke,
The pleasant child is slain.

The winding-sheet doth bind its limbs,
The coffin holds it fast,
To-day it’s seen by all its friends,
But this must be the last.

Until the Lord doth come to judge
The nations great and small,
And you and I before him stand,
And at his presence fall.

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Sunbury Memorial Park, Delaware County, Ohio