The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1824-07-24
FOR THE GARLAND.


'Heauea gi1e8 US friends to bless the present scene
Resumes them, to prepare us for the nert"
The SHOWS of three winters have descended, and
the flowers OF three summers have blComed, upon
the grave of my young riend-yet the rgors of stern
winter have not chilled the affections nor have the
beauty or fragrance of the verna buds soothed the
pangs which rend my bosom. The tender plant
which crushed in its blossom, still lives in
waning verCure in the heart devoted to it by the
most binding endearments. And though Time, the
&c kind soother of human woes" Gains for a
ment the tumults Of grief yet he cannot obliterate
the image which continually hovers round me
fits before my wakeful imagination The chords
OF affection are too numerous to escape vibration,
even from the slightest touch
When some fayorte air of music strikes my ear,
such as my friend loved in his pure but transient
life, my soul is awakened to thousand recollec-
tons and tender associations of youth. Memory,
that faithful recorder of past Joys and ranking woes,
leads me back to days of innocence and reckless
ness. Then, side by side, traversed the ver-
dant meadows and deep-shaded forests, in search of
the most attractive objects which Nature, in the
plentude of her bounty, every where spreads be-
fore her bewildered admirers. From these inno-
cent rambles, Memory conveys me on to scenes
more interesting, the beams Hope grew brighter
to preparations for entering upon the busy tolls
Of life. She recounts our many gilded dreams of
happiness, interspersed with the sombre shades of
woe-and she hu1res me on from the earliest JOYS
of infancy to the varied griefs and mingled delights
of opening manhood-then leaves me, melancholy
and care-worn, at the tonbs of my youthful friends
On the hill which Overooks the cleft noun
tains and the meeting OF the waters" lie inurned
many who were, and are yet, dear to me. The one,
however, whose memory is most cherished, was
linked with my affections by means which never
iaI to cement eternally young and confding hearts
c0ngenality of views and sentiments had early
bound US. If was cheerful and apparently happy,
his superior viyacity tended to enhance the stock
of happiness. If | sunk into the depths of melan-
choly, (the usual tendency Of my refectons) he
knew how to sympathise in my sorrows, and well
he knew how to dispel them. The light Of con
tentment soon banished the thick gloom of despon-
dency, and every thing in life assumed the lively
hues of JOY and the lovely tints of innocence.
Who could forget the existence Of such friend
Who would not weep his early exit? Who would
suffer to be etfaced the recollection of his worth2
Who would be, iii such case, to s'dumb forget
fulness prey p Such a companion can never,
never be forgotten
You WILL doubtless think me a slave to melancho-
ly. IT'S true, often indulge gloomy feelings but
there is pleasure derived from them which should
be unwilling to forego They serve to dispel the
lonely veyard, to see the wreck of human love
illness and worth, and observe the Stiffness which
reigns within bosoms once agitated with the work
ings of ambition, tortured by the strife OF passions,
Or narrowed with the pangs Of gllef-eveIy thing
like PRIDE, envy, or resentment IS stlted; and
nought peryadcs my but the kindIer sentiments