REV. AUGUSTUS SHEPARD 15 



he courted and married in the year 1875, Kev. 

 Grooms of Greensboro, ^N". G., officiating. 



This union bore every evidence of Divine 

 formation, and was abundantly blessed. Actu- 

 ated by mutual interest and love, it made its 

 impress upon humanity and became like all such 

 unions, a blessing to mankind and a glory to 

 our Heavenly Father. The quantity and qual- 

 ity of its offspring was an emphatic expression 

 of God's approval and blessing. They lived 

 happily together for thirty-six years and nine 

 months. These years were joyfully spent, and 

 hence were fleeting. Every one who came into 

 that home felt at once its benigTi influences; 

 aglow as it was with "sunshine and song," and 

 with mottoes here and there upon the walls 

 bearing scriptural texts, w^hich were unmistak- 

 able evidence that the Word of God had a con- 

 stant place in their lives and practices. Every 

 one who entered this home was deeply impressed 

 at the scriptural rule, and that was the rule and 

 guide of this home. 'No day had duties too 

 numerous, or tasks too arduous, for family de- 

 votion. Many have wondered why such un- 

 bounded success has come to the children of this 

 family; the answer lies in the consecrated life 



