American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-10-05
From an Engtisd JNagazine.
THE QUAKER'S BURIAL.
Wol Id 7.
!" If mortal charity dare claim

. II mortal charity dare claim
lie Aimlghly's attributed name,
lnscrlbe above his mnudernG clay,
I'll lie Widows's shield, the Orphans stay =
Sir Watter tScOtt.
i was in the twilight OF an auiumnal evening" THAI
a stranger, no had just returned from long So
ourn In a foreign land touHd himself reversing one
Of the most silent * unirequenttd streets OF Biistol:
Buried in the reflections which that sober-h oughl-
ed hour IS apt TO produce-musiug ON past scenes
and early friends, the dead and the distant, The
crowds we knew, the one we loved :; he iouud HIM
self on sudden making one i'll procession, who
were, apparently, dschafging the iast Office that
man requires OF his fellow. Indifferent as 10 The
event. the stranger allowed himself TO be carried ior-
ward with the muitlluue, and il was not Till he had
entered large, uuadotned building, and was seated
one oil the benches wh,oh were ranged along the
walls, that he became conscious that lie was within
G'iaker's Meeting, the witness of Quaker's bu-
laE
To mind stated with the luxury and pageaniry
81 The East, the scene and Interesting and
II might oe--the recollection OF some hidden gam
CREME OF The soul made The Wandered excaim in q
kind OF mental soliloquy as he gazed IN tue placid
faces OF !" he Ftiends' around him, " Oh, had
my life to 1--we over again, what different creature
would be'-He closed his reserie. lie SocIe-
ty, two aud Two, slowly walked up The ceplie, and
a pain, Gnonanien.ed deal coffin, containing The
remains OF their late brother, was then soiemnly
borne up The middle aisle, and placed in iuil view Of
the assembly. One Of the Society then arose and
made brei request for silence 10 the credit of
the crowded assemblsge, it was instantly and strict
y complied with. I here could hardly be scene
more touching, than the profound and death like
Stiffness which now reigned throughout the baiding,
and nothing more subdulng than Inc simple yet I'M.
posing spectacle which It presented.
Ranged around the coffin Of him who had been SO
suddenly called TO exchange the illusions OF earth
Tor the realizes OF eternity" were those who had
been the partakers of his hopes, his privileges, and
mis- faith white behind seen, in unaffected
sadness, those whom his bounty had relieved, his
support encouraged, his advice consoled anl his eX-
ample guided. Ii was true, the subhme service Of
onl church was wanting no notes Oh the swell
ling organ came bursting on the ear. aud no proc
amation heard oil the titles and styles OF those
who are then alike insenslbe TO praise censure 4:
out there was something ineXpressbly affecting ia
the silence which Peryaded the whole assembly SO
leep-so unbroken, that the ticking OF the clock
was distinctly audible and that the was startled
even by stuffed sob, which here and there burst
rom those whose feelings were beyond control.
A female friend shortly rose and addressed The
multitude. She could not but suppose that GU
osty had attracted considerable portion OF her
auditors. Still even these might learn some use
ul lesson might derive some improvement from
he scene. The most tboughtIess might listen to
he voice Of Instruction, the most inconsdelate to
he dictates OF truth She then pointed out in en-
rgeic vet unaffected language, the beauty and
,obleness of christian life, and with very brief
ulogium on the beoevolence OF the deceased
more indeed with view OF exciting the emulation
L the living, than of making ostentsious dis
,lay of the virtues of the dead-closed her pthy
ddress.
The most fas,idious critic mght have dwelt
With admiration The graceful, YET quiet action OF
he speaker, and have listened with delight, to the
melody Of that voice which spoke peace to the soul
While that earnestness of the Quaker's manner,
nto which her subject occasionally betrayed her,
semed but TO give unusually animated express
ion to a countenance where every thing else was
aim and tranquil. She ceased, and the proc ession
moved slowly towards the grave. Yet even there,
lille the body Of their brother lowering into
is narrow dwelling, no expression OF turbulent
orrow disturbed the soemnity OF the scene. Re-
gion mad given her lranquilizing hue to all around
,has eoed sadness was the prevailing feature OF The
as they one by one took the " last long
,ok )" but every kind OF human sorrow, every
Expression of vain and selfish regret, was excluded
ON these placid counenances, which no anxiety
ppsared to have power 10 ruifle, calamity 10 be
Bile to disturb. f..
The late MIR. R. OF him ii may be truly said
nat he exported his fortune before him to heaven and
e trust he IS gene thlther TO enjoy IT,"