Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-04-07
SORROW FOR TIE DEAD.
From Washington IrTin's Sketch Book.

Inc grave Is tue Oluedl OF true al
lection. Ii is there that the Swine
passion Of the soul manifests its supe.
riority to the instructive impulse OF a
mere animal attachment. The latter
must be continually refreshed and kept
alive by the presence of lis object; but
the love tina. IS seated in The soul can
live on long remembrance. The mere
inclinations OF sense, languish and de
cline with the charms which excited
them, and turn with disgust from the
dismal precincts Of the tomb, but it is
thence that truly spiritual affection ri
ses purified from every sensual desire,
and remains like a holy fame, to lilo
inmate and %sanctify the heart of the
survivor.
The sorrow for the dead, is the on.
ly sorrow from which we refuse 10 be
| divorced. Every other would we
seek to ~heal-every other affliction to
forger, bot this would we consider it
as a duty to keep open-this affection
we cherish and brood over IN solitude,
Where is the mother that would will
Ingly forget the infant that persisted
like a blossom from he: arms, even
when the tomb is closing upon the re-
mains of her whom he most loved,
when he feels his heart, as it we're.
crushed inits portal, would except of
the consolation that must be bought by
forgetfaiuess: No-the Ioye that sur.
wives the tomb is one of the noblest
attributes of The soul: if ii has its woes,
it has likewise its pleasures; and when
The Overwhelming burst of grief is
Gained into the gentle tear ofrecollec
tion,-when the sudden anguish, and
the convulsive agony over the present
ruins OF all that we most loved, is sof-
tenedaway into pensive meditation on
all hal it was in the days OF its love
~iiness,-who would root out such a
sorrow from the heart, though, it may
sometimes throw a passas c cloud o
yer the brightest hour of gaiety, or
spread a deeper sadness over the hour
Of gioom,-yet who would exchange
it tor the song of pleasure or the burst
Of reyelry?- No-th there is a voice from
the tomb sweeter than song; there is
u remembrance 81 tie dead to which
we turn, even from the charms of the
| living. Oh the grave, the grave
it bnries every error-covers every De
feet-extinguishes every resentment,
From its peaceful bosom, spring none
bet fond regrets and tender recoilec
tons. Who can 'ook down upon the
grave even OF an enemy, and net feel
a comrunctions throt, that he should
ever have warrcd with The poor hand,
fui of earth that lies m~oufdering before
him!
Ave, 60 to The grave of bAriea love,
| and there meditate--thers settle the
account with thy constance, Toy every
past endearment unregarded, or that
departed being, who can n~evey-.ne-
yer-never return 10 be soothed by thy
contrition.
If thou art a child, and has v e I'D
ded IA sorrow to the scoi, or a furrow
to the silvered brow, ofan affectionate +,
pareni--if thon art a husband, and !
hast ever caused the fond bosom that
ventured It's happiness in thy arms, to
doubt one moment of thy kindness or
thy ttuth-lf thou art a friend, and hast
ever wronged in thought, word or
deed, the spirit that generously conf
| Ia - AHaa - gt,os, arf - lo.,o. a-I
hast ever given one unmeritcd pang
to that true heart which lies cold and
still beneath thy (eet--then be sure that
every unkind look, every nngracious
word, every ungentle action, win be.
come throwing back upon thy memo.
ny, and knock doleiulIy a: thy soul
then be sure that thou wilt lie down
Borrowing and repentant on the grave.
and otter the nDhead groan. and pour
the unavaiiing tear, more deep, more
bitter, because unheard &. unavailing.
Then weave the chapiet of flowers,
and strew the beauties of nature about
the grave; console thy broken spirit. if
thou canst with these, tender yet futile
tributes of regret-but take warning
ny the bitterness ofthis thy contrite af-
fiction ver the dead, and hencefoith
be more faithfully and affectiona,e in
the discharge ofthy duties whiIeiivipg
REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES.
SamusI ,Adams-Among the great
founders of our freedom few names
stand higher and none earlier than that
OF Samuel Adams. The Congress