American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-02-16
THE FUNERAL.


THE FUNERAL.
Written by little Girl of Lexington Ken, thirteen
years old after returning from the funeral Of schoolmae
Extracted from the Kentucky Reporter.
1t was picrcingly cold Sunday evening.-Th.
sun had hid itself behind the clouds, and Nature
scemed to have acted in unison with the feelings OF
my heart We prepared 10 attend the funeral OF
one of our former schoolmates who had been called
hence by death, while in the bloom Of youth and
beauty. On our way to the mournful scene, the
light lest, and reckless. careless laugh ct nv com
panions were heard, and we seemed to be amusing
ourselves by taking walk, rather than going 10
witness the awful ravages Of death in the face and
form OF our late companion. We saw the black
receptacle OF the coffin. ss il slowly approached the
door We reached the house. All was dark, lone.
and dreary a child showed US the way. We en-.
tered the crowded ahtcbamber. There saw
weeping cyet and breaking hearts. l pushed for
ward into the room, where lay the remains OF her
who was once eminently beautiful. amable and
conn plished. The room was darkened, but still
| few rays of light penetrated into this dreary abode
Of sorrow and death. | approached the coffin. She
appeared entirely altered. The rose that once
bloomed on her soft and delicate cheek, was now
sue cceeded by lily wheness; those eyes. that once
besmed with animation, with love, with in,ellieen
were now closed in death; their animated expires
| SION was ueO iOEefcE uC tdTi curry TiHSCtS that
once were spread, in Wild confusion, on her whre
neck, were now clipped and the lew that remained
were almost entirely concealed from our view, by
the cap of Grape. ray OF light suddenly illumina
ted the room. 1t fell on her countcnAnce and rem
dered her, to all appearance, alive. Her lips ap
peared 10 move. watched intensely lhe folds
Of her white shroud, which covered her breast, ap
peared to be gently ageated by her breath. fan
| cied she was alive IL was bu! fancy, and vain
one. thought of the hours which had spent with
| her but short year ago. She was then blooming.
gay, and happy had spent many hours with her
but few months since, In the festive ball room
but where was she now In her coffin q lifrless
heap OF clay Oh! wha, 4 warning again gazsd
on her, and wept She was clothed in white, in
the habiliments OF the grave and l---slill among
the living AT her feet was young and weeping
relation. gszed on her deceased, her loved
Sussnnah and she seemed as il she were willing
10 ioD the spirit OF her cousin. She gazed wistuIy
al the corpse. ~ il she would fain have share oi
that narrow coffin. One of Susan's brothers ap-
! preached he gazed on her pale lace; tear tell
on her marble features; he gazed again; he stoop
ed and pressed her lips, and starting up, darted has
tly from the room. The weeping cousin started
forward and Dressed burning, thrilling kiss. upon
the marble, icy purple lips of her beloved Susan
wcpt airesh 10 see the love which the brother
manifested towards his lost lsmented sister, and the
fondness with which the young creature wept III,
death OF her Susan. The man approached TO close
the coffin, and to shut her forever from the sight o
hsr weeping friends. turned away and wept il
sgory D; SOUL Every sound that vas made in nail
ing on the top oi the coffin went to my heart. wen
into porch to weep unrestranedly. saw younS
child standing IN corner weeping violently. Sh
ives asked what csused her to weep! Oh said she
they are going to bury sister, and then who will b
so good, so kind to me left her. It was too much
Oh how good being, TO be thus beloved by dc
crepid age and prattng youth. proceeded. III
coffin was lifted into the bier. We proceeded to tt
place Of interment and the coffin was carried to tn
grave. Ii was lowered. A brother to the dscease
s,ood nigh, and he shed no, tear Oh unf-eline
cruel man how can you refrain from mourning tn
loss Of such sister, when even the stranger weeps
But OH no. no it was rot There is an agon
o the heart deep for ulterance there is gris
which tears are no. permitted 10 express! The
proceeded to throw the earth over the coffin, an
every spadeful went to my heart. lett the groun
deeply convinced OF the uncertainty Of human life
Farewell to thee. sweet Susanosh! Oh may tn
stranger tread lightly thy tomb. young and lcyel
Girl and may thy soul find its way to the courts
heaven, and there abide Let the man OF feelin
drop q tear of sympathy. as he passes thy lowl
tomb let him weep at thy early death, for thou 10
vast a child OF fee'iog. and pitied the woes OF tn
unfortunate. We shall miss thy form and thy silve
voice in our plays, and thy light lsiry step IN tn
festive dance but the poor will miss thee more tc
thou vert the hope OF their desolate state. Oh
thou wilt surely be happy for thy voice and thy ste
were those of an angel scattering happiness!
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