The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-09-11
@isrritanv.
Fsn she alshsr Of" Lsghs and Shadsws Of Seofsss
life"
THE ELDERS DEATH BED.


IL was on fierce and bowling winter day
that was cross,ng the dresr, Moor OF Auch-
lndowh, on my way 10 the Mause OF thst par
ian, . solitary pedestrian. The snow, which
had been. necessarily iaiiing for week past,
was dsii,sd into beautiful but dang erous
wreaIhs, Lar and WIDE over tho melancholy
cxganse--snd the scene kept visibly shilung
0eipse me, as the strong wind that blew from
every point ot tie compass struck the dag
Sl(fs smasses, and heaved them up ard acwn
An @1naA nxfoI nation. There was some
~ The labor with which, in
| The b0cysnt su ength OF youth, forced my
wsy through the storm---and could not but
enjoy those gieanings OF sunlight lhut ever
aud snoo burst through SOME unexpected op.
onng IN the sky, and gave a character oi
che esriu!ncss and even warmth 10 The sides OF
summils Of the euiLken hills. Someurnes
Tho Wind stopt Of sudden, and then the air
was ss silent as the snow--not murmur 10
DC heard from spring'or stream now all tro-
zen up over their high moorlauds. As the
momsntsry cessa,,ons Of the sha, p drih allow
cd my eyes 10 looS onwafds and around, saw
here anS there up the little opening vallies,
cotages jus, visible beneath the black stems
oi their snow.coveted ci0mps of trees, or bo-
SIDE some small spot OF green pasture KEEP,
open tor the s5eop. There ip,ima,ions Of
life and happiness came delightfully."- 10 me IN
The midst ., desoiation; and the barking OF u
deg; attending some shepherd In his qucsl on
tue hill, put fresh vigor into my limbs, teii-
ing ms, that lonely ss l seemed 10 be, WAS
surrounded by cheerful though unseen com.
paoy, and that was not the only wandcrer
over the SHOWS.
As walked along my misd was insens'b!y
filed with crowd Of pleasant images OF fu-
raj winter life that helped me gladly onwsl DIS
over many miles OF moor. ] thought OF the
severe bot chccrfu! Isbors of ,he bafn--ihe
attending OF Il farm gear by the tire-sidc--ihe
wncei turned by The foo, OF old sge, less Tor
gam than as a thrifty pasume--,ne skiitui
mother making "auid eIaes look amaist as
woei's the ncw"--tbo Ballad unconsciously
listened TO by the Iamiiy oil busy a, their own
tasks around tho singing maideu---ihc otd ira
dilionsTy tale told by socnc wayiarer hospMa-
bly vail! the storm should blow blythe
une expected visit OF neIghDors on need or
tiendship--or the footolcp ct lover uocc.
erred by suov.driils tha, have buried op his
flucks .--bat above oil, l thought Of those
nours oi religious worship that have not yet
scaped from the domestic lite OF the peas.
81, Of Scot,and--ot inc sound oil psalms
.s the depth ol snow cannot deadcn TO the
car Of Him 10 whom they orc chso,ed anu
of that sublime Sabbath keeping when, on
days too ,empestuous for the kirk, changes
Tho cottage OF the shepherd into Inc temple
ol God.
Wi.h such glad and pcsoefu' hinges 10 my
heart, | travelled along that dieary moor, with
the cutting wind 10 my face, and my !cet SINK.
ing in the srow, or sliding on The bard blue
ice beneath it--s, chectfaiiy 10 l ever walked
in the dewy warmth OF summer morning,
through fields OF fragrance sed Of flowers.
And now l could discern, half within an
aout's walk, before me the spire 0f church,
close to which stood the Manse oi my aged
lend and beneIator. My heart burned with
IN me as q sudden CLEAN Of stormy sunlight
tipt il with 6re--aud fe: at that moment, an
incxpressiblc sense Of tine sublimny Of The
character Of tho grey-headcd shepherd who
had, for City years abode IN the wilderness,
keeping together his own happy little flock.
n. was ascending a knoll, / saw before
me on horseback an old man, with his long
white hairs beaten against his face, who new.
ertheless advanced with q calm countcnsnce
against the hurricane. Ii was no other than
my father, Of whom had been think'ng-for
my fs,her had called him for twenty years
--sod for twenty years my father he bad Iu.
Iy been. My surprise at meeting him On
such . moor--on such day, was but mo-
meotary, for knew that he was Shepherd
who cared not for the winters wrath. As he
stopped to take my hand kindly into his, and
TO give his blessing 10 his long expected si,i.
tor, the wind fell csm--the whole face OF the
ky was soitened, and brightness like smile
went over the biushing and crimsooed snow.
Thejvery elements seemed then TO respect
The hosry head Of fourscore-snd after our
6r,t greeting was over, when looked around,
10 my affection, felt how beautiful wss win.
ter.
II am going" said he, "to visit man at
tue poin, Of desih-a mao whom you cannot
have forgotten-whose head will be missed
in the kirk next Sabbath 10y eli my coogregs-
tioo-a devout man, who feared God all MS
DAYS, end whom, on this awful t'iai, God will
sssuredly remember. I was going, my son,