Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-12-27

4
They, however, were mutually happy
10 each others society aud friendship:
and in contemplating the future, there
seemed to rise before them luxuriapt
fields and flowery paths and beautiful
habiisiions.
But He who sccth not as man seeth,
had otherwise determined. This
mounssinfiower was doomed TO wilher
and die. Scarcely had one fleeing
year dispensed its blessings, when a
fever seized on her delicate frame,
and she gradually sunk under its burn
ings With her husband and father it
was now time Of indescribsble int
rest. The former loved her for her
gen!lcness and endearing mental qua
litjes, and wspt =. the bare thought of
bidding last sdieu to all he held dear
on earth. Her father TOO, knew we'll
how to admire the exercise of the vir
,uous affections. A thousand name
less endearments seemed to hsv en-
twiDed his very existence with her
own Bot what threw hsllowed
pensiveness over the scene, was, that
she had been the child of his prayers
He had carried her in his arms before
he bsptismal altar, and there given
her away to God Often in the dark
ness and solitude of night, he had
kneli before The eternal throne and
commended her to the blessed Jesus
How couid he now see her laid in the
grave, without hope in his stoning
blood? How could he look upon her
cold, Iifeleas clay, when The spirit that
once animated it, was in the world OF
desp2irl Poor man" said many
heart, 'he cannot survive il she dies
thus--so intense is his vision Of eier
nal things Meanwhile the diFease
was gaining ground-she saw she was
.going--nol without serious alarm, but
with no hope! Many time when
her kind fssher bent over her bed SIDE
with the4voice of sffecsionate entreSty,
and countenance struggling between
the emotions OF anxiety and resiena
too, she would look on him with
despsiring eye. and say that his plous
councils were all IN vain her harvest
was past, her Summer ended, and she
wns not saved! Then the broken
heAried miller would go sssy and
commune alone With God; nil every
tear was dry aud every tumuiooDs
feeling hushed in the sublime coniem
plaiion tina, the Lord God omniposent
reigneih'
The sad, The melancholy day, al
last. came The lovely green that
spread its mantle around the secluded
habi,s,ion, seemed now 10 be tiuged
with sorrow. The beresved husband,
with a broken heart, believed the
cold clsy with many tears. OIher re
latlves and friends sat weeping around
the remains Of so dear an ohject--it
was verify house Of mourning. Bot
amid this afflicted group stood the ven
erable father, alternately raising has
melting eyes TO heaven, and then cast
ing them affectionsteiy upon his Dc
parted child. No murmurng no rom
plant, no inordinale sorrow THE
Lord gave said he, 'the Lori hath
taken away, and blessed be The name
OF The Lord He then kneeied dow n
by the bed side, end poured forth his
hear, in lervent suppi'cstion TO God,
recountibg his mercies, snd praying
that his afilicsion, though for the pre-
sent not joyous hu' grievous, nigh.
work out for them all far more ex
csedipe and eternal weight Of glory.
II was affecting 10 hear such notes of
thankfuIness ascend from the abode of
poverty and tears, while msny-ah
TOO many whose lives have been
crowned with goodness, never iel, one
emotion ofgratitude to him from " hom
all their blessings flow.
The morrow came After the usu
al services OF The afflicted dwelling a
procession was formed, and moved
slowly TO The grave Around it all
were quickly gathered, and the damp
earth was closed over the loved re
mains The last impress had been
sealed--the las, look bad been taken
earth was returned TO earth, ashes
TO ashes, dust to dust. The heart Of
the bereaved husband seemed rem.
with anguish Even now we seem TO
hear his stilled groans Many hardy
veteran, who had seldom ~ept before