This article was found in an old scrapbook that was purchase at an estate auction in
Amboy, Miami Co.Indiana
(Special to the Indianapolis News)
Muncie, Ind., November 21. Thousands of people in Muncie extend sympathy and condolence
to stricken parents in Blaine street, who became childless Sunday, when their last little
one, the fourth to die within six weeks, passed to the Great Beyound.
The last child to die was May Munson, twelve years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
McPherson, 522 Blaine Street. Rose, Susie and Freddie, her sisters and brother, all
younger than she, preceded her. A child died some ten years ago, and now the prostrated
father and mother find themselves alone. Diphtheria, with complications of pneumonia,
caused the death Sunday, and two of the other three. The fourth succumbed to spinal
meningitis. The four children died in six weeks.
Just before May died, she said: "Papa and mamma, I have just been to see little
Freddie,Rosie and Susie. They knew me. They are in heaven, for I saw them there with
Jesus, and they were so happy. I am going to them, papa and mamma."
Then the little girl, who was a general favorite in the neighborhood, calmly said she
wanted to make her last prayer on earth. She raised herself slightly on her thin,
emaciated arms, and in low but distinct tones offered her meek but fervent invocation to
Providence, which was to close her worship of the Deity in this world.
When she had concluded, the grief of the parents was so intense that they could
scarcely speak. She addressed them, and they drew nearer. "Papa, be good to mamma; be
as good to her as you have been to me. Mamma, be good to papa; love him, and you both be
happy and meet Freddie,Rosie,Susie and me in heaven." Gradually the sparks of life
grew dimmer. It seemed that the pulse hardly beat, and finally the little soul left earth
in its upward light.
( There is not a date on this clipping but a picture of the children is with it, looks
around the turn of the century)