MRS. FRANK HATHERLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 258, 1 November 1939, Page 9

MRS. FRANK HATHERLY

(An appreciation, by one who knew her as "Friend.’”) “For others sake, to be quite brave, Though in your heart there be a For others sake, to be quite sweet, Though thorns may pierce your weary feet. For others sake, to line each day, As though joy helped you all the way. “Herin is love.” Such lines very fittingly describe the life of Jessie Hatherly, who, to use her own words, as her expressed desire, "slipped quietly away” from us on Saturday night last, after a somewhat long and very painful illness, so bravely borne that few could have guessed the great suffering which she endured so patiently with never a word or murmur of complaint. She literally gave herself "for others sake.” To those whose privilege it was to know her intimately she was one of the brightest examples of selfeffacement and self-sacrifice in the service of others, being absolutely devoid of self-pity, which was indeed a virtue developed in her to a degree not often seen. To enquiries as to her health, her reply was invariably "oh, I am getting on nicely, thank you,” in that cheery, jaunty tone of voice, so peculiarly her own, that, one could almost imagine that she was really enjoying herself. It was, however, not only m her suffering that her star shone so brightly, but also in countless little acts of kindness to her friends, as well as her well-known general charity which has endeared her to so many. With a naturally vivacious nature, she seemed to spend her life, darting here and there, leaving little tokens of the kind heart which were hers, reminding us again of her two aunts of happy memories, Mrs. Ballance and Mrs. Foreman whom she has so faithfully emulated, and indeed to whom she was such a devoted niece. Once again there came to the mind, lines which so aptly describe het busy and loving life-ministry—-"lf any little word of mine Could make a heart the lighter, If any little song of mine Could make a life the brighter God help me speak that little word, And take my bit of singing And drop it in some lonely vale, And set the echoes ringing.” That was just Jessie Hatherly. She went singing through life, in calm or stormy weather. A devoted wife, a good and successful mother, she has fought the good fight and entered into rest. '