THE DEATH OF PETER FLYNN by E. Eberhard Down in the cloudy west The sun had sunk to rest, And night around her ebon garb had thrown: That pale, nocturnal queen Upon her throne was seen. And through the drifting clouds from heaven Shone. Between the silv'ry bars Of clouds, the glittering stars Upon our little earth each cast a smile. When child and friend drew nigh To bid a long good-bye To one now soon to leave this world so vile. The soul of Peter Flynn Fled from this world of sin On Saturday, the seventeenth of May, Unto that blissful shore Where sorrow comes no more. His spirit fled in peace and love away. For eighty-seven years He, in this vale of tears, A character unsoiled, unblemished, bore, His duty well he's done. A crown of glory won A happy home upon that golden shore. Hard by the old oak tree, An oblong mound we see, And underneath the newly broken sod, His body, free from woe, Is lying, cold and low: His soul has fled to meet its Judge, its God. O! Holy Virgin, pray For us, who here must stay, Besieged, deluged by sorrow, grief and care Upon our dying day, O! Mary, for us pray. And save us from the tempter's luring snare. St Paul, Oregon, May 20, 1873 Sept. 12, 1871 Mary Flynn On the twenty third of Septmenber eighteen hundred and seventy one, we, the undersigned priests, have buried in the grave yard of St. Paul's Parish, the corpse of Mary Flynn, wife of Peter Flynn aged seventy one who died the twenty third. Witnesses: Mr. Brentans and Mich. Horan etc. (M. Horan is his son-in-law, Pat E.) May 20, 1873 Peter Flynn On the twentieth day of May A.D. eighteen hundred and seventy three, we the undersigned, pastor of The Parish of St. Paul, have buried Peter Flynn of this place, "passed away" on the eighteenth of the same month he being then eighty seven years etc. Witnesses: John Bienta, James (?) man, (?) , and many others. Patty Flynn Erickson