Tuesday, February 7, 2012

taphophile tragics #7

Ididn't have time to shoot new images for this week's Taphophile Tragics post, so I picked one from my first visit to Mountain View Cemetery back in October.

our Little Ralph
only an armor bearer
& his loving sister Nellie
I have no idea how old the marker is, nor how old Ralph or Nellie were when they died. The dove on top with the olive branch is a symbol of peace. The weathering, the style of the marker, and position near other older markers suggest the grave is fairly old.

10 comments:

VioletSky said...

I wonder if they died at the same time since the marker looks to be all one. Yet again, I am paying attention to the carving and notice that it may have been of two different hands. I haven't noticed too many symbols on our headstones, but it seems the ones that do have them are very worn.

SeaThreePeeO said...

Beautiful! I wonder what the stopry behind their short lives and their traggic deaths are.

Herding Cats

http://seathreepeeo.blogspot.com

hamilton said...

"only an armor bearer"? maybe I am missing something, but I don't understand that one. Still, it is sad to see a young brother and sister together in one gravesite.

Gene said...

Thanks for stopping by, all.

"only an armor bearer" is a Christian reference, and is the title of a hymn written some time in the 1800s. From what I can tell, it refers to being in a supporting role. But I don't know if that's what they meant, or something else.

Gene said...

The best reference I've found for grave marker symbolism is on a site called Grave Addiction

CaT said...

how sad!
usually leave a cemetery with many questions. this too makes me wonder!

diane b said...

Yes it makes one wonder what their story was.

Julie said...

Wow! I knew I could rely on you, Gene. That you for that symbolism link. I am going to commit it to memory! I keep seeing things and not knowing if I read too much into them. I am that way inclined.

'Only an armor bearer' I took as a reference to war, but did not know about the christian link. I have read the lyrics and they refer to a lowly ranked member of the Lord's army ... I think.

Ralph and Nellie sure are old-style names, so that dates it. Not sure about the style of marker. I have seen other markers for youngsters which have been this taciturn.

What is it with that mason, and his need for full-stops!!

You're a treasure, Gene. Taa ...

Annie Jeffries said...

I've noticed many headstones without dates. I wonder why that is?

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

So touching, isn't it?
Lovely shot.