The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1915, Page 76

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76

The Lutheran Pioneer.

cerely reciprocated by the children up to the time
of her demise. The Spirit of God had implanted in
her:the consciousness of parental responsibility early.

Her piety exerted a wonderful influence upon
her children and grandchildren, of whom there were
twelve, besides two great-grandchildren. She held
them together with an absorbing mother-love. It
was one big family, with “Mother” as the central
figure. This large family, due to her motherly
influence, was kept together also for our congre-
gation. With unceasing diligence she went after
her straying ones till she had them back. True,
and that counts for you and me, she felt as if her
words were sometimes in vain; there were tears here
and there over a straying one; her weary foot fal-
tered now and then. But the Lord was on her side,
gave her new hope, added strength, and the satis-
faction, after many a struggle with a lost sheep, that
His Word was still true.

Tn her old age she was permitted to taste of the
Lord’s loving-kindness more than ever. All of the
members of her family bear a good name among
their fellow-men. Mother Hosband knew the value
of a good name, and with the Lord’s help she did
her share to give them this inestimable life-treasure.

The family circle was so large, and one heard
the sweet name “Grandma” so often, that most of us
involuntarily called her-Grandma, too. She was,
indeed, the right kind of grandma, with the accent
on grand; because of her Christian virtues and
mother-love she was a shining example for all.

She worked hard and faithfully ~to give her

children, especially her grandchildren, who had-.

better opportunities, namely, in our mission schools,
a thorough Christian education. She was not satis-
fied to have them in the day-school, but she used all
her powers of persuasion to bear upon them to attend
divine services at the house of God regularly. In
this she succeeded to an extent worthy of our emu-

lation. At all times she had an open purse for the.

household of God. She contributed regularly and
cheerfully, especially in the years before the infirmi-
ties of age came on. Though these incapacitated her
in a measure, and created additional burdens for
her and her family, yet the needs of God’s kingdom
were her greatest concern. In this she set us a glo-
rious example. To her family she left the priceless
heirloom of a blameless life.

That she was a sinner she knew; and for that
very reason she communed often at the Lord’s
Table. ‘Through the blessed Sacrament the Lord
strengthened her faith, and gave her courage and
new hope in the battle of life.

The last days of her life were spent working
for the advancement of the cause of the Lord, whom
she trusted and whom she praised to her last breath
for the many blessings He had bestowed upon her
during her fourscore years and one.

She became a member of Mount Zion early in
1883, and from that year to her death she was an
exemplary missionary of our Lutheran doctrines.
All her children and grandchildren are Lutherans
to-day thanks to her unceasing labors in behalf of
our mission.

At last the Lord came and took her away from
us, August 11, 1915. When we put her in the tomb,
and the burial service was over, the lines came to me:

Ye weary limbs, now rest you,
For toil had sore oppressed you,
And quiet sleep you crave.
Then I wended my way through the old, quiet Girod
Cemetery and said, “Au revoir, Grandma.”
Unotr Bos.

ol

The First-Fruits of Our Colored Mission
in Washington, D. C.

The picture shown above was taken on July 11,
1915, and represents our first class of catecliumens
in Washington, D. C. These two married couples
were baptized and confirmed, and admitted to
membership, in the little Lutheran flock which had