The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-28

so diligently cultured, as every week to have |
been planted with the choicest flowers of the
season, ,ethers haye been ornamented with the
more permanent shrubs, and the little hill |
locks sacred to infants have literally, be-
slowed on them
call the incense Of the breathing spring
Several good purposes are answered here
by. will recount some of them to you in
the words of Pembrokeshire widow, whom
lately saw decorating the graves of her
husband and child, their first born who died
in the same year. The following is faith
full copy of our conversation.
Your employment must be interesting to
you.
.'It is our way in these parts, Sir. Some
think it trouble: have no pleasure now
that equals it, yet am sure to have my eyes
wet all the time it is doing"
The relations then, at whose graves you
are performing this sadly pleasing duty, must
needs have been very near and dear to you.
"They could not be more so. This was
the best husband, and the most honest man
| in Wales; and the roses and violets, which I
have just been setting at the head and feet
of this grave, are not sweeter OF prettier than
the poor little girl who lies under them. But
they are in better place, and ought to be
happy, and so l am
Here she wept very bitterly.
| / see yonder, an old man entering the
church yard with large bundle of young
plants which he can scarcely carry
"'That man is in his ninety third year, and
has buried all his family: the last was grand
son, to whose grave he is going, and which
he will make like garden before he leaves
it. Almost all that end of the church yard
! ho &c mir
about the graves of all. but his grandsons
the most
Then he was the favourite of the family
as the last and youngest, perhaps, he was the
poor old mans Benjamin.
| On the contrary, he loved him the least
and some think, that an unlucky blow given
by the old man was the cause of the young
ones death, but it cannot be proved, so he es.
capes; but by his care about the poor fellows
grave, our towntolk imagine his conscience
smites him: though for that matter, we all
dress our dead here, whether we love or
hate them, it is quite scandal to let a Satur-
day pass, without making every grave as
clean as ourselves for the Sabbath"
1t is commendable custom, l wish with
all my heart, it were adopted in England,
where too generally speaking, the reposito-
ries of the dead are shocknsly violated.
t Horses. cows, sheep, are often suffered to
feed upon the grave; nay, the parson him
self frequently turns his pad to fatten on his
deceased parishoners. This you will say, is
being priestridden with vengeance, still
worse, the hogs ofhafthe parish are allowed
to root up the earth and bones.
"Blessed be God, the bones of my dear
babe and husband do not lie in England"
And as to cleanliness in other respects,
| tbaf article Dronprly an obiprf nf your
care is very rarely attended to with us. The
weeds and nettles are permitted to choak up
half the graves in church-yard, and every
ether species of negligence and filth thrown
there, as if, being decent receptacle of the
forefathers of the village or town to which il
belongs, it were the common sewer of the
parish. Some few indeed are kept little
more orderly, because they are either public
8 walks, and have therefore degree of FASH
ion. or the bishop of the diocess is resident
iary there; but even these exceptions are for
the most part confined to the path ways. and
the green avenues that shade them, the rest
of the spot being left in a condition both in
decent and shameless. In the northren dis
trict of---shire, two church yards were in
dicted as nuisances by the parish, and third
much nearer the seat of magistracy supreme
was in such abominable state, that the cler-
gYmen and OVcrSeeTS, aitei many huitieas
complaints on the part OF the inhabitants
were cited to answer accusations before q
. Spiritual Court.
"Good heayenl we want no overseers bisll-
OPS or spiritual court, to make US keep oul
dead (Which surely, Sir, are part of our
selves, whether above the earth or under it.
: as free from such as we can. If the grave
we clean holds good relation, we show our
constant attention as mark that whatever
;, trespasses he or she may have committed a
)! gainst US they are forgiven. If a nettle, OF
C weed was to be seen to morrow in this church
yard the living party to whom it belong:
. would be hooted after divine service by the
whole congregation. would part with my
N last farthing rather than see these two little
heaps go to ruin; nay, except few feet o.
earth cultivate for use, decorate my gar
den with flowers and shrubs only for my dead
IS and look upon it to be as much theirs as i
they were both alive.
The good old woman here finished her dis
course during the greater part of which SHE
was on her knees plucking up every thing
n which was unseemly, fastening the loos'
tile e.work, and forming with mixture ofma