Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-09
From the Rockingham Gaseife.
THE HOUR OF DEATH.

NV hour is come. Bu, no un,hought of hour.
Whose gloomy presence chiils my sonl with dread
1t steals as gently DER MY weary heart,
As the fond parents Footsteps round the cradle
Where ipuoceut beauty sleeps. I've looked for IL
Since the first opening of my youthful mind;
Sometimes in hours of elatincSs would the thought
Calmly angels voiccs heard M Dreams
Forbid the unmeauing laugh OF ca cicss JOY,
And melt each feeling into prnsi," sadness
Sometimes in midnight musings when the soul
Was weary of existence, il would come
In many flash OF wild and strange delight.
found 10 pleasure in the yomtstnl spring
Nor the bright kindlingS oi the morning cloud;
NV spirit fingered on the waning year,
OF the last bushes of the sunset heaven.
And the red leaf that whispered il must fall.
loved TO gaze on beauty but twas not
The airy form and features bright with smiles,
Blu, thu pale cheek where death had gently laid
His first Ii ght touch anti left " lovely still
I've lain fn, hours hcneath the aged tree
That casts It's shadow Ger the homes of death,
When evening Sunshine slept OH every leaf
AMI all around was still.-lve marked the graves.
Some tn less as would my own shnuk be
Some graved with al the high parade Of deaih--
Some with low stones and moss fast creeping o'cr
them,
As cold oblivion gathers DER the
or those who rest below-tl-n dismissed
Life and its char ges from my heat awhile,
Aud thought of death Ill, it became familiar.
! thoagh. the humbleSt nee c,nhercd one
Was laid there with a sigh -some with warm Tea is,
Some with the grief that time could never heal,
Witt love enduring as the aching heart
Whose love becane ,lespair-amd could il be.
Thar souls full of high and heavenly n,using,
Souls that could chain affection To their graves,
Were minsli,s with the dust that closed them iu'
No the long grass springs yearly from their bed,
The violet there reviews It's dnGual flower,
Aud sure the image OF the heavenly nature
Is du abb, they: oh you may close the coffin,
Heap high the earth upon their breast or bind
The rocky arches Of the pouderoIs tomb;
The soul will burst its boni!age-yes, will smile
AT those memorials wan fell hound to raise,
While it springs upwart! to its native home.
Or III the loneliest watches of the night,
When silence rested on the siumberinL w".ld,
When the leaf stirred not: but serene in heaven
Tne moon and stars went on the:f glorious way,
And the winds dared not breathc while earth Law
still,
And wondered at their beauty hive thought
II Uncn the weary cares ni life are ended,
Ny spirit might have rest III fields Of light,
Aud dwell! Ill man si"n5 calm Rni bright : they.
Why might IT not? lis clay that binds il down.
BIZ, oft even the spirit ihro of ITS chains,
Aniha:rics upward through the vati of heaven
Beyond heaven utmost Luuu.is even now it rau-
ges
Beyond the f,rtlest star whose fninfing ray
Seems trembling into darkness ami Dotrows thcnC.
Emotions deep, and -irong nag ,.iugs,
With tlieughis more beautiful than earth affords
Aud finds friend in each bright wlnIcfcr there.
fhan surely whGh ne bands of clay iooscd
An the strong prison oGih soul is broken,
II will rise high abrvc - ooldcsi hisht,
Above lis cares. above lis i0ys aii sufi0ws,
Ami rest not till it bgeatii". t:r, heavenly air,
Aud folds it, pinious at tie h.onc OF God.