Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-02-20

tain without hands, shall dash it in pie
ces I; and shall, itself, become d gfeat
mountain, and cover the whole EARTH"
To the Editors of the Missionary.
GentIemen-The following little Incl.
dent was copied from the journal Of a
friend, travelling in one Of the middle
states. II you deem 1t worth place In
your paper, shall be amply compensated
for the trouble Of transcribing it.
Yours, z.
just as | was about to order my horse,
funeral procession was observed APP
preaching the inn, and | determined TO
wait till it should have passed. The land
lord 10 the mean time informed me, with a
countenance somewhat more solemn than
the ore with which he welcomed me to
bis house, that the earth was about to
receive the remains of man who had
seen "a great deal Of worldly trouble
aud gave me in few words The history
of the deceased. He had long been an
iphabitant OF the neighborhood, and was
equally distinguished for his honest indus
try and mislortunes. Within few years
he had committed 10 the tomb wife and
six children-ail he ever had, and his on
lily kindred at the time Of his decease was
an aged father, who was dependent on bis
son for support against the iniirmisies
which eighty winters had been accumu-
lating, and who was now made childless.
became interested in the scene, and as
the melancholy procession approached, |
observed lettering behind the bier, the
afflicted and venerable father. His white
locks conirasted mournfulIy with his 6 sa-
BILE suit Of wo," and made an Impression
on my mind which can never be oblitera-
ted. The burrows which the hand of
time had carved in his face were deepl
and many, but his look seemed not to be-
speak sorrow alone--I thought saw an
depression Of resignation placidly BEAM
ing from conntenanee which seemed the
index Of mind TOO strong and too well
fortified by some mighty principle, obend
or break beneath the severest trials, The
keenest misiortunes Of the wordMAImosl
ins:inctively mingled in the inonrntu
groupe, and proceededto the church, yard,
which was Bit 4 little distance freH. the
ion. The corpse was decea,ly aud re-
specially inferred, and The friendly neigh
bors were about retiring, when the aged
father stepped to the head Of the grave,
with trembling hand uncovered bis sill
livery locks, and after a moments hesita.
lion thus addressed them :--ss My neigh.
bors aud friends, | give you aany thanks
for the kindness you have this day shown
lmc-you have rendered many such before,
but you can never receive from these
lips another expression Of gratitude for
Hike attentions-I have no more friends
Ito bury. God, in his alI-wise providence,
has taken TO himself the last Of my race,
| and ] know not another being on earth in
whose veins my blood is coursing--all,
all are beneath these clods and in few
short days my own head shall lie as low
as theirs. o.. / have koown affection!
+ but the band that afflicted has supported,
aud have rejoiced even 10 my adversely.
o God | thank thee for the b!issiul as
, lsurance that mourn not without hope
d Something tells me | shall meet where
death cannot intrude, all whom have
t loved so tenderIy Cd earth--and this as
surancc is recompense which ten thou
sand times compensaies for all my trials,
all my losses here. / am chiIdless--
lfriendless. have no kindred 10 close
these eyes that begin to gaze family on
earthly objects. But my necessities are
, few, aud | shall soon cease to want--I
shall soon be with thee, my son, in thy
j cold and narrow house-My son! my
/ son i"--Here he dropped upon his
knees, and raised his clasped hands, as
If offering silent prayer TO Heaven. ]
turned away my head, overcome by a
scene so affecting. had not then known
! sorrow-I was young, and gay, and
j thonghtless the world before me seemed
IA garden Of flowers, through which |
j fondIy hoped 10 wander, undisturbed by
) care, unaffected by misfortune, untouch-
. ed by snffering-but | felt, feeble and
decrepit as tina. old man appeared, bowed
r down to the earth as he was, and just
! about to close his eyes for ever on the
T world--I felt that most gladly weuld
lhaye exchanged my own condition for
his: Ali my hopes, all my pleasures, all
: the golden dreams Of uncontrolled fancy
J world / have cheerfully given to have
possessed that exalted faith, meekuess
. and resignation, which shone from his
countenance, stamped as it was by the
j footsteps Of age, and beaten as it appear
: ed by the chilling blasts Of misfortune.
r My imagination was wandering from eve
Try idea associated with earthly things,
!. and know not how soon should have
/. recalled my rowing senses had moi
e been aroused by the sudden exclamation
1 lof the spectators. ! turned my head 10