The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-02-25 00:00:00, page 1

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WHEELING REPOSITORY.
(Vo*.. 1.) Thursday, 25th February, 1808. (No 42.')
ORIGINAL POETRY
-—•-S*.**—
[Although the following production was written in
reference to a particular event, the sentiments it contains
are such as will suit the situation and feelings of many
persons. Articles of so serious a nature, are not univer
sally acceptable ; but they ought to be favourably re
ceived in this “world of pain,” whos * inhabitants, “born
to trouble,” are, time after time, bereaved of their rela*
tives, and who have not only to descend to the grave,
but also to go to a world of spirits. Articles of this
kind, have a tendency to awaken the mind from its apa
thy; to lead man to consider his capacities and prospects'
and to attend to his most important concerns.]
Elegy on the Death of Kebcica Bolton.
A.aareased, lo tier i-iolnes.
Tilh Elegiac strain has now become pj trite,
'i nnt to the real mourner, there »pp..ilL
Nought, in the long drawn line, bui fitly might
He call’d, a cold apology ior tears.
Affected Sorrow leaves the mind at ease
To stroll through Nature’s fields, to pick and choose,
And, with a touch ot Fancy’s pencil, please
Tne roving eye with riowrets ot ail hues.
Not such is his, who bids this sorrowing line
A Cousin s memory iiom oblivion save ;
Nur, my dear Aunt, alilicted widow/ thine,
W hose tottering irame leans o’er a daughter’s grave.
This, this is genuine Sorrow : And we may
Allow our hearts to speak it, without blame ;
Tor Nattire claims the tribute, which we pay,
As her just right ; nor will she wave her claim.
— Hid from the world, Rebecca grew, between
Maternal tenderness and heavenly care ;
Grew, like a plant that [doom’d almost “ unseen,
And spent its sweetness in the desart air.”
Her mind w ith no wild fire of Genius glcam'di
No zone o! Spartan hiihiancy, her bread ,_
With milder lu.Ure all her virtues beam’d,
Tike Spring's soit verdure where the eye might rest.
Th’attentive gaze, and e’en th’aj plausive look
•Gl strangers, she, loo diffident to meet,
Tue Mary, lov’u ! ;.he quiet portion took,
iueuUy.muiig 41 the blaster's ket.
And that “good part” which she so wisely chose,
What time her youth and health were in their bloom,
Consoled her spirit at life’s awful close,
And bade her shrink not from an early tomb.
YY hen o’er her couch, contemplatively bent,
I, through my tears, beheld her strength decline.
How gladly this world’s wealth would l have spent
for peace like hers /—to call her prospect mine l
And thou, dear Aunt, whose anxious eye oft view’d
1 he change which sickness made on one so dear ;
I hou, on w hose breast her cheek olt sunk, bedew’d
YV ith many a filial sympathizing tear :
—(Full many a tear, which kindred sorrows drew.
Thou and Rebecca shed, too well 1 know;
And many a cause lor many a tear ye knew,
II to be stripped ot much could make them flow !)—
Say, if one word, pronounced by thee, might fetch
Rebecca from the mansions ot her bliss,
Y\ ouiust thou, pronouncing it, consent to snatch
Her spirit back to such a world as this ?
Check then thy tears ! and let our minds retrieve
The calm which Sorrow, when indulg’d, destroys $
So sh.cll we prove, that we at once believe
Our loss, her gain, and truly share her joys.
Besides, thou knowest, we feel within our hearts,
P hat every change to thoughtful minds makes plain)
1 hut though the Grave may part us, yet it parts,
Like the swift keel, the waves—that meet again:
And knell succeeds so rapidly to knell,
(1 or '1 ime flits ever! and its flight is fleet!)
YV e netd not say to her we mourn, “ Farewell”-*.
So soon to follow / soon, I trust, to meet!
Locust Ridge.
Power oj Religion.—A Staunton paper of the lJth
January, gives the follow ing account ot the happy death
ot a young woman, in the 20th year of her age.-—
Died, in Pendleton county, on Monday evening the
4th inst. Miss Catherine Harris, eldest daughter of
Mr. VV ill lain Harris. Her death i» as remarkable as
it was sudden. She was in perfect health all the day ;
and th.it night a prayer-meeting was held at her father’s,
at w hich she was present, and appeared much engaged.
She at length began to exhort her lather and mother,
and others in the room, to persevere in the heavenly
race, and said that in a Jew minutes she would be with
Jesus. In a short time she joyfully bid adieu to ter
restrial things.