Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

i64 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
bearers. Father wrote a dirge for the occasion. On that
beautiful day in October, out where the seared and yellow
leaves were drifting down, President Allen read the dirge at
the mound as the draymen were bringing their loads of fresh
earth to cover the mortal remains of this pioneer educator.
These are the words written by our dear father:
A DIRGE OVER DR. R. H. BISHOP
Come, pile ye the mound, for the veteran has gone.
Who came to our west in the springtime of youth;
His pilgrimage with us was useful and long—
A teacher of science, of wisdom and truth.
His mound should be high in a beautiful spot.
For high was his purpose and lofty his soul;
His virtues shone bright in fulfilling his lot.
But now he's transplanted beyond Time's control.
Then bring the green sod and smooth over the grave.
The grave of the noble, the kind, and the true.
From the crown of the apex let evergreen wave
And the tears of our young men the bright sod bedew!
We'll remember his virtues, all frailties forget;
His long, useful life richest blessings have crowned;
And soothing the memory and fond the regret
We shall feel as we gaze on this beautiful mound.
This production was pubHshed in a local paper and was much
admired. Alas, how small the number who live to-day on
College Hill who have ever known of this bit of college history!
Should any of our family ever visit College Hill, let them not
forget to inquire for the grave of Dr. Bishop. You will be
taken through the college grounds down a little path into a
secluded spot, where you will see among the natural growth of
young trees a somewhat neglected mound where for a half
century or more has reposed this scholar's dust. Only those
whose memory reaches far back will recall the doctor's vener-
able appearance on those commencement days of long ago.
He used to stand on the rostrum and lift his hand to call down
God's blessing upon the large assembly of that day. He was
a doctor of divinity and a man of rare culture.
When Dr. Bishop knew that his time of passing approached,
he called his friend and requested that no monument should