Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-06

- cnstom. decorating the graves Of
ff;onds with howersl because, as it is
~ IF the last, 50 it is one of the hottest
or %ccs Of love. The grave is the ordeal
O f. tru]y human affection. 1t is there
,%., the divine passion of the soul shows
-; '"" snperiority to the instructive attach
~ If the brute; fnr the love OF the
mS, must be continually refreshed by
.%n nrescnre of it's object. but the love
,rtLn bpman soul can live on long re-
mcmbrance , 49,.
.-,na,w from which we wish to be diror-
o.J--Fyrry other wound we seek to
bc.l every other affection to forget:
,nt this wound we consider il duty to
,.,oo onpn--thia affection we cherish
a,j Io.5nd over in solitude. Where is
Go mother that would willingly forget
.Ls infant that persisted like blossom
Go her arms, though every recollec
,;,r is A pang? Where is the child
that would willingly forget the most
fender of parents. though To remember
bo Lpt to lament ?--Whn. even in thr
Lour Of agony. would fnrget the friend
nycr whom he monrns p" no. even
when the tomb is closing upon thu re
moirs of her he most loved, and hP
fool. his heart, as il were, crushed in
me closing Of its portal, would accept
consolation that was t. be bought bN
f,rrctrulncss mo, the love which sur
wives the tomb is one of the noblest at
tributps Of the soul. Ii it has it's woes.
il has likewise its delights; and when
the overwhelming burst OF grief is
claimed into the gentle tear Of recoilec
tipp---when the sudden anguish and
thr convulslve agony over the present
ruins nf all that we most loved, is sof
tcncd away into pensiye meditation on
all that was in the day s Of its lovclincss
.-.wbn would root out such a sOrrOM
from the heart? Though it may some
times throw a passing cloud even over
the bright hour of gaiety. or spread a
depner sadness over the hour Of gl"om
vet who would exchange it even for the
song rf pleasure. or the burst OF reNe lr,9
No. there is voice from the tomb
swecter than song. There is rec0l-
lection of the dead to which we turn e.
ven frCm the charms of the living. Oh
the grave the gravel 1t bnrics every
error covers every defect : extngnish
es every resentment. From It's peace
ful bosom springs none hut fond regrets
and tender recoheCtions. Who Can
Look down upon IT," grave of an enemy.
and not feel a CnmppnctiOus throb, that
ever he should have warrPd with the
poor handful Of earth that lies moul-
dcrinm before him!
Rnt the grave Of those VIZ loyed----
what a place for meditation! Then il
is that VIC call up in ling review the
Whole history of virtue aud gcntleness,
and The thousand entearmfntS laviShed
upon Us almost UNDECIDED ia the dali,
Intercourse of intimacy ;---then it is that
WE dwell upon the tenderness, the So
Tenn, awful tenderness Of the parting
sCpne---,hc bed Of death, with all lis
stlach grirfS. jts noiScless attendance,
It's mute. wdtrh'ul assitluities---the last
testimonies Of expiring love- tho feeble
futtrring, thrilling, oh how thrilling!
pressure Of the hand the last f Id look
Of the glazing c, c. turning upon us even
from the thrrshhnld If existence the
faint. faltcrinS GCrents struggling in
death to give one more assurance Of al
fiction
Ayr, go to the grave Of buried love.
and mediate, There settle the account
with thy conscience for every past bcne-
TT mieQuited---every past cndearment
mrNga.ded. of that departed being.
Who can never -never---nerer return
to be soothcd by thy ccntrition!
u then art child, and has ever add
ell a SOrrnw In the soul, OF furrOw Ia
'he Sii:Crrd brow OF AN aifrCtionate pa
rent il thou art husband. and hast
ever canTcd the fond bosom that yentu-
red It's whulc happiness in thy arms, to
"nuht one IMMINENT of thy kindness or
NV truth If thou art friend. and has
cv'r wronscd. in thought. or word. or
deed. the spirit that generously conf
dec in thee ii thou art a lover. and
has ever given one unmerited pang to
that true heart that now lies cold and
still beneath thy feet ;-then be sure
That every uukiud look, every ungra-
TIpuS N oil ,,,.x, ,,,,oa,tla act;or will