Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-08-22
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine.
TIE. PENITENT SON.

Death Drugs TO tnoSe VINO nave been
long dreading its approach by the edside
of one tenderly beloved, calm in which
nature feels most gracious relief from The
load Of sorrow. While We yet hear the
faint murmurs Of the unexpired breath,
aud see the dim light of the Enclosed eyes
we watch 10 agony all the slightest
movements Of the sufferer, and to save The
life of friend or parent, we ourselves
would most gladly die. All the love Of
which our hearts are capable, belongs
then 10 one dearest object; and things
which perhaps a few days before were
priced as the most delightful Of earth's
enioyments. seem. at that awful crisis.
unworthy even of The affections Of child.
The blow is struck, and the sick-bed is
bier. But God suffers, not the souls of
them who believe to fall into an abiss of
despair. The being, whom for SO many
long years we have loved aud reverenced,
" Has past through nature to eternity"
and the survivors are left behind 10 mourn
faI resignation to the mysterious decree
Life and death walk through this world
hand 10 hand. Young, old, kind, cruel,
wise. foolish, good aud wicked-ail at last
patiently submit to one memorable law.
At all times, aud 10 all places, there are
the watchings, and weepings, and wailings,
of hearts severed or about to sever. Yet
look over landscape or ciiy--and though
sorrow, and sickness, and death, be 10 the
groves and woods, and solitary places a.
mong the hills--amoDs the streets and the
squares, and the magnificent dwellings OF
princes yet the great glad spirit oflife is
triumphant, aud there seems no abiding
place for the dreams of decay.
Sweet lonesome cottage of the Hazel
Glen Even now is the merry month OF
May passing brightly over thy broomy
braes and while the linnet sings on earth,
the lark replies to him from heaven. The
lambs are playing 10 the sunshine over all
thy verdaut knobs, aud infant shepherd
and shepherdess are joining in their glee.
Scarcely is there cloud in the soft cern-
lean sky--saye where gentle mist as
cends above the dark green Sycamore, in
whose shade that solitary dwelling sleeps!
This little world is filled TO the brink with
happiness---for grief would be ashamed to
sigh within the still enclosure OF these
pastoral bills.
Three little months ago, and 10 that cot.
age we stood together--son, daughter,
grandchild, pastor, and friendly the
death.bed OF the Elder. Ia thought, are
we still standing there; and that night of
death returns upon me, not dark and
gloomy, but soft, calm, and mourn!ui, like
the face Of heaven just tinged with moon
light, and here aud there solitary star
The head Of the old man lay OH IFS pill
low stiller than in any breathing sleep, and
there was paleness Cd bis face that told
the heart would beat no more. We stood
motionIess as in a picture, and looked
speechlessly on each others countenance.
" MY grandfather has fallen asleep" said
the loving boy, in a low voice, uncon-
sciously using, in his simplicity that sub
lime scriptural expression for death. The
mother, unable to withhold her sobs, took
her child by his little hand, and was lead
ing him away, when at once the dreadful
truth fell upbn him, aud he knew that he
was never again to say his prayers by the
old mans knees. g Ohi let me kiss him
only once-before they bury him 10 the
cold earth;" and in moment, the golden
curls Of the child were mixed with the
gray hairs Of the lifeless shadow, No
terror had the cold lips for him and
closely did he lay his cheek so smooth to
those deep wrinkles, on which yet seemed
TO dwell last loving smile. The father
Of the boy gazed piteously upon him, and
, said unto himself, "Alas! he hath no love
10 spare for me, who have so long forgotten
him. Jamie-my little Jamie 7 cried ne
now aloud, " thou wouldst not weep SO
we're l to die--thou wouldst not kiss SO