The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1824-12-23
DECEMBER %, 1924
TEE BURIAL.
e And where is he'--not by her side,
Whose every want he lov'd to tend"

TO dispense and the sun gradually piCdhhS
through the heavy wraiths of overshadowing
gloom, sprinkled thousand glories amid tte
dripping grass blades, and spread splendid
rainbow above the drifting scuds that iiled
the western skies, as | assembled the green
hill by a path that led to the late dwelling OF
De Wilter. The three roads that terminal
ed the hill top, were lined with persons on
foot, on horse back, and i'll various vehicles,
all plodding on towards the already crowned
dwelling, and gave ample evidence OF the es-
timation in which the departed one had been
held in the neighborhood.
pushed nv way into the house that |
might look once more upon the face OF my I
Young friend, before it was hid away forever
from mortal vision. But numbers pressed
towards the liteless corpse, and the under
takcr was already come to screw down the
coffin lid, and waited on. for the relatives OF
the deceased to bid a last adieu to his cold
remains, so that | was unable to accomplish
my purpose; only heard them say that he
| looked natural that he had died i'll rapid
! fever, the last flush of which had hardly
worn from his cheek. A short and breath
tlcss pause ensued, then a momcntary stir &C
companed with the voice "stand back,
few low, deep, trembling sobs succeeded,
and the lid closed, and heard the screws
driven in. The confused tread OF many
steps followcd--the crowd gathered round
without, and at last the bright polished ma
hogany coffin was brought out and laid care
fully and softly down upon the bier.
A deep solemnity rested upon the encir-
cling crowd for moment; every eye was
turned pensively and sadly towards that spec
tacle, and the language Of many heart seem
cd this" He is, what | shall be = The
gulph seemed narrowed, that divided etcrni-
ty from time, that thought could sec be-
yond it-Death stood before me, q reality
and reminded me of that great Change which
is fastening to pass upon all men. But two
days before, the form that is now enclosed in
that narrow abode walked uprightly before
men and talked and laughed, as gaily, and
unsuspectingly, as any who now stood around
it. It was all over; the signct had been
set, and the spirit had gone to its last &C
t count.
, Nrapt up in these CONCENTRATIONS, stood
and gazed until the carriers lifted up the
bier. and removed some distance towards
the village church; the glitterins spire Of
which blazed now in clear sun above the
green copse at the foot ofthc hill.
: The sable clad mourners slowly descended
from the piazza, and moved with faulterng
steps towards it. The long procession form
V ed in the rear, and the whole began to wind
4 slowly down the village road.
Thetendency of men to levity-theirpronc-
{ ness to forget every warning--their faith
y lessncss of friendship, began already to ap,
IS pear. The smile of merriment returned
: gradually the affairs of the day were fami
liarly discussed and the plans and pros
poets, and business of common life, occupied
], every tongue around me. The mourneH
) alone appeared to feel the stroke or to re
! member with a single sorrow its effect. Ant
vet he who had fallen in the morning OF lii
% was an associate, a companion, friend 0
ID these! Why was it SOL know the an
II swer that is ready. sit is the way of thu
j. world
At last we reached the church yard, AM
! the coffin was let down into the cold DAM
> crave: the loose straw and gravel was thrown
il upon it, and burial completed in haste
1s seemed almost to betoken impotence to pu
!, away from sight all that remained OF the de
:" parted one The relatives had taken las
&c look; tile crowd had paused in silence Tor
n moment, the last tribute was paid, and tn
IS multitude rolled away more rapidly than the
had collected. A few friends only accom-
panied the mourning family back to the man
sion on the hill and having tottered teN
moments by the grave, followed them.
In crossing the farm, now that the con
ne course of people had disappeared, behel
the tokens Of that sudden calamity, Whic
had overwhelmed it's inhabitants, IN ever
u direction. A plough lay overturned IN tn
e furrow an axe was rusting by pile
s. wood, and Wagon half unloaded stood
no the lane. In the general panic every tim
20 had been left in the situation 1t happene
he to be at that moment-Thcse had been pei
~ haps unnotced that day by any other, but
me. each little incident spoke IN voice thu
-, reached the heart 1t is sad, 1t IS melar
choly; it is touching, the spectacle OF Srief
vs. pale messenger, as it is displayed even IN tn
nd minutest traces Of its footsteps or its effects
of De Wilter, now lay cold III the ncglecte
grave yard, but in his pleasant mansion III
=. table was spread out and loaded with all u
els luxuries of the season. His friends it seen
ter ed had gathered to feast. The weeplr
M widow had indeed retired to her chamoe
ers with her infant orphans. She tell an, 81
felt the loss of all most dear to her up'
earth. But at the door sat too sage ana We
or cradle men, gravely discussing the advaht
op- pes that would arise from their procuril
cd. power to administer on his estate, and u
80 means of so doing-while IN the corner OF q
- room. carrying OH an earnest conversation
es- whispers, sat couple more, planning nc
OBJ they could contrive to purchase the farm
ew, the lowest possible rate =.
nae | had scarcely turned away from the
80 last :. friends of the family" before we We
called to dinner. Every successive oi