The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-03

CON MPTION.

CONSUMPTION.
The moss roses are still elMered IN theil
undceaying splendor ahovtMIhe porch o
| Calder Cottage ) the bees ARE murmurina
in their JOY rernd ne hive ON lis green
swana, rich With its white and purple clio
vef the turtle doves are cooling on thereof
vfsdB lumage frightening in the sunshne
while over all is shed dim and fender sha-
dow from the empowering sycamore, be-
meath whose shelter was built, many long
years ago, the little humble rtliiice In IFS
low simplicity, it might be the dwelling OF
the poor but the heart feels something in
! its quiet loveliness that bgeathes of the spi-
rit of cultivated liic.--A finer character oi
beauty peryades the still seelusion, than the
hand of labor ever shed over lis dwelling in
the gratitude of its Sabbath hours all a
round seems ministering to the JOY, aud not
10 the necessities of existence; and as the
eye dwe!ls on the gorgeous ornaments which
SUI, and air, and dew have showeIed in pro-
fusion over the blooming walls, the mind
cannot but think of some delicate aud gen
tie spirit retired from the world it had a
dorned, and enjoying IN the twilight of life
| the sweetness and serenity of nature.
Such were its inmates few short months
ago. The sound of music was heard far
down the romantic banks OF the Calder,
when, IN the silence Of evening, the harp
was touched within these humble walls, or
there arose mingled oice of spirits hymn
| ing through the woods.--But the strings of
! the harp are now silent, and the young lips
that sung those heavenly anthems are Gov
cred with the dust
The lady VINO lived there in herNidow-
hood was sprung Of gentle blood and none
who had but for a moment looked on her
pale countenanee, and her figure majestic
even under the burden of pain, could ever
again forget that image, at once SO solemn
and so beautiful. Although no deep lines
disturbed the meek expression of that IA
diag face, and something that almost seem
ed smile still shone over her placid fca-
lures, yet had that lady undergone in her
days hardslips and troubles, and calamities,
that might have broken the heart aud laid
low the head, of manhood in lis sterncst
pride. She had been with her husband in
famine, battle and shipwreck. When his
mortal wound came, she sat by his bedside
her hand closed his Eggs and wrought his
shfoud: and she was able to gaze with a
stcdiast eye on all the troops marching with
reversed arms and with slow step, TO me-
lancholy music, when the whole was drawn
up at his funeral ON the field of battle
PNhaps, then, She wished to die. Bat two
chlldrea were at her knees, and another at
her bosom and on her return 10 her ma
i've country, she found heart to walk thro'
The very scenes where she had been most
| blessed, before those infants were born. aud
TO live in the very dwelling, To which he
who Was now buried had brought her "A
young and happy brde.--Such had been
his last request--and seventeen years OF re
slgnatlou and peace had now passed over
the widow, whose Soul was with her hls-
band II morning ard al evening prarcre,
during hours of the day when there were
IN my present, and during hours ofthe night
when there were noue hut the eye of God
To witness her accomplishing melancholy
Her grief was calm, but il Was constant ii
rePlned not, but il wasted away--aud the
adj called her happy, al knew that her life
was frau, and that one 80 sad and sorrowiyl
even Ia her happiness was not destined by
God for old age. Yet for her none felt pi-
ty-a higher feeling arose in every heart
from the resignation 81 perfectly expressed
IN every motion, hook and tonc--and beau
tfiul rs she was on earth, there came across
the solls fall who hchcld her, "A thought
Of one yrt more beautiful III hea1 On.
Her three daughters, altho' their health
had always been delicate, were well, cheer
tul ami happy; but some said, whenever
they were met walking alone, a solemn, il
not mounfuI expression was ou then
countcnances and whether it was 50 OF
not, they certainly Stunned society rather
than sought il, aud seldom rartook Of the
innocent amusemcnts natural to youth, and
10 which youth lends ~ much grace and
attraction. No one ever saw any of them
unamlabie, or ayoi.e from the gladness oi
others; but shade of sadness was now
perccptibe over all their dcmeanour, ard
they seemed bound together by some tie
even more strict tlsan that Of sttorly aliec-
ton. The truth was, that they felt God
had gwen them but a short life, aud that
when the bier of ono was carried into the
church yard, that ofthe other would not be
long of following IT to the place of re2t
! Then mother ditd first, and her dealt
had been long fOresccn by them for they
who spoke together of their deaths, were
not likely TO deceive themselves with re-
spect 10 that Of one 50 dear 10 them ALL
She was ready and willing TO die but, re-
signed as She was, it could not but be al
filctng to her parting spirit to see those
beautiful specifies gliding round her bedside
with countenancfs and persons that plain.
told they were fast Fastening on to tn,
tomb.
as it .dcseryed to be for humble as she was
in heart, yet she had been highly born
and many attended her body to the gray,
who had almost forgotten her, while alive
IN her simple retirement. But these were
] worldly mnurners. Nhn hid asidn 4 eir snr.