Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-03
ETISCELLANY,
FOR THE LITERARY CADET.
TALES, ESSAYS AND REVIEWS.
By JEREMY l..
No Ill.,
AFFECTION.
AFFECTION.

am fond OF visiting the graveyard.
To indulge in reflections suggested by
the solemn objects around, is salutary
and delightful. Nothing SO causes us to
reflect on the feeble tenure Of our lives
nothing convinces us so forcibly ofthc
worth!essncss Of sublunary Objects
nothing in short, is so instructive, save
the volume Of inspiration. We feel as If
VIC were tread,ng on hallowcd ground,
as though nothing impure or earthly
could approach us, and consider it Grim
inal to indulge any train ol'thought, dis
consonaut to the objects around us. We
are led to think Of those that repose in
the silent tombs, of their plans and cx-
pectations buried in the dust, and ifthey
be those We once have known and loved,
still more interesting and affecting are
our suggestions. TO behold the spot
where their frames lie mouldcring, to
think that there are laid those who were
dear to us while living, in whose sorrows
and joys we participated, and with whom
VIC formed many fond scheme Of fu-
turc life, that they are now needless Of
the voice Of affection, and unconscious
Of the tear that is shed on their ashes,
and that through the long years of our
pilgrimage, we shall never again receive
smile, causes deep yet elevated sor-
row to the soul. We are led to weep
over the blighted hopes of our fellows,
learn justly to estimate the value Of time,
and retire resolved to employ the brief
period Of our existence, in the alleviation
of the miseries, and the promotion of the
happiness of the human race. We are
taught not to attach ourselves too closely
to objects from which we are ever liable
to be separated, and to place our supreme
affection on Him, whose being is per-
fcction, and whose years have no end.
Though it may be thought we cannot be
too ailcctionatc TO our relatives and
friends, yet | believe there ore instances,
though rare, in which an undue affection
has blinded its votaries to the duties they
owe to the world, and which Oh the loss
Of those objects, has brought them down
with sorrow TO the grave. An Instance
of this once became acquainted with,
in manner truly affecting. 1t was even
ing, l had entered the graveyard, ma
ture was calm and silent, the stars shonc
bright, and the moon poured her beams
on the silent mari les of the dead. l be-
held a youth whose conduct attracted my
attention, even from those objects which
the scene around was so eminentIy cal
cuated to suggest. lie walked quickly
from one monument to another, yet me-
thought hesitated to read the inscriptions,
rs person seeking to discover an OBJ
ject, yet dreadng to meet its view. ]
observed him for some timo, he was too
much absorbed to remark my presence
At length after reaching a monumcn
that seemed recently erected, he uttered
a cry ofdespair, and threw himself on tn,
grave. l had to much regard for hi
feelings to interrupt his grief, but watch
cd him at distance. There was some
thing so striking in the inten.ity Of hi
sorrow, that determined mo if possible
TO discover its cause, and after he hat
slowly retired, ! drew near the tomb a
which he had discovered so much emo
ton. II recorded the death of mothc
and daughter, who had departed from th'
world at nearly the same time, few
months previous. These, I afterward
learned, were the mother and sister o
the unhappy young man, his sole rela
tives, to whom he was attached with al
affection, more than human. Deprive