Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-03-01

tend beyond his physical powers and re
sources. 1t is true, that, if our moral
iacuines were perfect and unlmpalred,
our wishes would be SO regulated by ac-
quiescence 10 the will of cur Maker, that
we would form no wishes which we
might not crafty. Every desire would
be enjoyed, for we would have none be-
You'd attainment. But such--we have
too much PROFITS not our condition.
tits this perpetual wishing and hoping
for something which we have not, that
makes our lite pass along SO like a
dream II we accomplish any of our de-
signs, we find safety or disappointment
instead OF enjoyment; and, straightway.
set out in pursuit Of another phantom.
In short, ii matters little whether we OBJ
tain what we wish, or not; our view is
still ahead: The object OF desire may be
changed--but il is still in prospective.
When the heart grows sick with con-
templating the unreal and fading nature
of our sublunary enjoyments, how reviv-
ing Is the consideration, that there is
state of existence-and that a future
stae--.in which there are Joys, sub
stantial and sincere: Where there is no
mutability, no mixture of pain; but all
is permanent, pure, unsullied bliss.
The lines at the head OF this article
were brought to my recollection, by an
occurrence, which, frequent as it is, has
still solemn effect on our feelings. H.
was The funeral OF beautiful and anna
bic female; a wife and mother. | had
Y, har fnr IL
mired the excellence Of her character,
and enjoyed the evident love and harmo-
ny that existed between her and her
worthy husband. Oten-lhough not so
frequently as | wished--have | witness
ed the glow of pleasure kindling on the
countenance OF the lovely Mary, and re-
Hected from that of her lond partner
when, with few select friends, they
would spend the evening in innocent So
cial mirth, or, in the higher enoyments
OF heartfelt devotion. Sometimes, they
would unite their voices in hymn ofl
praise to Him, from whom they felt,
that they derived their happiness.--The
sweet harmony seems still to sound in
my ears.--A stole must have felt--an
inhdel must have believed-had he lis
tened to the melodious strain. 1t was
she spiri. of Devotion, breathed on the
sweetest, softest, almost celestial music.
/ thought on these things, as beheld
the lifeess form of Mary, wrapt in The
shroud and ready to be borne to The
grave. l thought on them, when | saw
the manly form of him. whose Joy and
delight she had been, struggling with
the grief, which swelled his bosom, al
most to bursting. My heart aked for
him, for knew his loss-and Ielt how
sad and solitary be must now ieel. His
was no ostentatious sorrow. He s,rove
TO suppress the signs which rose from
his grieved heart, and to conceal the tear
which stole down his cheek "Thy
will be done" seemed TO stile every
murmur. He sorrowed not as those
who have no hope His wife bad de-
parted in peace; for she had trusted in
her Saviour, and experienced sweet
hope that He had accepted her. How
consoling was this hope to her bereaved
husband His sharpcst pangs were
Uoothed by the thought, that the beloved
at his bosom was then, already, enjoying
che beati6c vision of the Lamb, and there
awaited him. 81 know that my Re-
deemer liveth," he could say, " and will
keep that which have committed unto
him" This lively hope of reunion in
the world of spirits, tended greatly to
soften the agonies Of separation.
AS the attendants were about to shut
her from his sight, he raised his lovely
little daughter to behold, for the last
time, the face of her mother. The tears
gushed forth, while he said, with voice
almost choaked with grief" Fare.
well--how long-God knows" AMI
universal sobbing was heard throughout
the room. Every heart seemed to melt
with sympathy for the afflicted widower.
saw not-I could not see--the action
OF my friend at this trying scene fer my
heart was too full, and turned to the
window to give vent to my feelings. But
heard the affecting adieu, and the sym.
pathetic response.
My widowed friend whispered as he
passed me; "My heart feels as if it
would break" offered no vain words
Of consolation. l felt that any thing |
could say would mock the feelings Of
heart, SO recently lacerated. He knew
fhe source of comfort, and, i, was evi.
dent, had applied 10 it.
And this, thought L, as | returned from
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