Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1824-12-31

however, deter me from publishing the
following Incident -
was invited, a few days ago, 10 attenG
the funeral of charming boy, the only
child Of my friend Ignatias.-Ignatius is
hardy sou of toll. Honesty and sim
plicity are the strong distinguished marks
of his character. '.Poverty has marked
HIM for her own."-I entered his humble
dwelling: in "a corner of the room was
placed the coffin; the father sat beside ii
| NTH the elbow OF his right arm resting
upon his knee, and his head resting upon
his hand. His leit arm hung careIessly
by his side. When L entered he raised
his eyes without altering his position; gave
me single look and then, as il to direct
my attention there, cast his eye upon the
gloomy box that contained the liielcss ho-
dy of His child, the hope OF his life. The
mother was seated at tn, foot of the cot
| i'm; her grief rendered her insensible to
| my intrusion A; she sat motionless as a
statue. bowed TO the influence of deep
sorrow, and without attempting to utter IA
single word. | took IA seat on the opposite
side of the room, aud looked upon the un-
distinguished wo that had taken posses
sion of this house of mourning. MY heart
was too tlll to speak. The robust and
masculine frame of ignatus was rivettcd
to the spot. 1t appears too strong to be
overcome by tender feelings, yet it yielded
to the fore of parental grief
The idle curiosity of many was graft
tied, us they came in, with look at the
busted flower, without b.ing noticed by
the parents; and the house was soon filed
with neighbours and friends. At length
the village preacher arrived--his mild
voice arrested the attention of the mourn
ers-lle shook them kindly by the hand,
and without giving them time to embody
their grief in words, he spoke consolation
TO their afflicted hearts, in terms SO well
suited TO the occasion, that could have
! rugged HIM To my bosom. The kindness
OF his words aud the benignity of his coun
tenance, made him, TO the sorrow ing par
enfs, what minister of our Redeemer
ought to be. The effect was marvellous.
The gloom that was spread over The
! ronntenance of ignatius and his partner.
gradually gave way to the heavenly lieht
that beamed upon them from the GOOD
lnan. he stores of comfort, in the scrip
lures of truth were opened TO them The
heavenly bliss of the departed spirit was
depicted in glowing colours and the little
cherub was represented as messenger
rom the parents to the throne of the Most
| High Here followed gcntle exhorta-
ton to live worthy OF parents of the saint
ed infant. Without giving to the afflicted
mourners an opportunity to divulge their
grief, he assuageG it, He opened new
prospects; he dispelled gloomy thoughts
| Without attempting to dispel the flood of
sorrow, he taught it to flow in other chan
nels, whose banks were irradiated with
the sunshine of hope, of consolation and
feligion-he could not remove the load,
but he taught the sufferers how to bear it.
Such is the divine efficacy of pure reii-
gion OF himself the good man could
rave done nothing; but armed as he was.
with the panoply OF the Gospel, he soft
ened the intensity OF wo, and taught the
afflicted mourners to rejoice in the midst
OF sorrow. SPECTATOR.
-sGgE@
Lord II. (who was much addicted to
the bottle previous to a masquerade night,
enquTed of foote ''what aeS0 character
he ought to appear in ?" g New charac-
ter" said the other, '' suppose you 90
s25er, my lord -