Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-18

Spring had revisited The earth with
sunny skies, and nature again appeared
in her robe Of roses, scattering flowers in
the paths OF human enjoyment. The
tunelul birds had again Visited the vii
iage, and were singing their morning
hymns in the lofty poplars. Every
hear; seemed to purtake OF tho general
Joy, when suddenly the voice of lamen-
ia,ion wac heard in the village The
angel Of de.SI had arrived, and an aged
fulher summoned to leave the happy cir.
clio. In populous cities such crcum-
stance exciies but little commorion, the
wheels of industry still roll Oh, and the
brcach is uuperceiveh: but III the little
community of u viI!as" it is far other
wise. A gloom ovorspread every rnlnG,
and every bosom sympathlscs with the
widowed heart and iatherlcss children.
| have stood By the dea,h-bcd Of the
giddy aud the gay, have bsheld the
last convulsivs struggle Of the young
az beautllul--but never have ] seen
any that can equal the parting Of the
fond parent. Human nature can bear
no more; i is q scene, nelhinks, that
would make an angel weep. There we
behold woman's love, hanging, in the
last moment, over the liieless body, like
n fading flower, while her tender chill
dren weep at her side, over fathers
love and mothers wo - Hard must be
the heart of that child, that can look
upon tho fading, dying eye Of father,
..,s Crn - t,a I.Gt ltce col l,t
ing tie Of na,ure At that hour remeni-
brance will dwell upon and carry us
back to the biissiul days Of childhood.
when we prattled 0t his knee, and the
hoart sinhs, and tho eye gu-hes, when
we cast our glance upon TINT dear father
in all the agonies ot death. But the
picture is too painful
Slowly along the church-way path |
saw hem bear him to the lonely grave.
Before went aged men, whose heads
were beginning 10 blossom for the tomb,
and behnd, IN sable woeps, were the
monrnors, absorbed in grief, thinking Of
tho breach that never can be filled. II
solemn sound Of the bell fell coldly on
my heart, and wiped tear from my
cncek, as the though, came over my
mind, that ] too mus soon be wrapped
in the cold winding sheet of death, and
carried along tho same path, to be de-
posted IN the dcsola'e domain. My
eye followed tie melancholy procession
until they entered the church, where the
minister of God was TO give the last hls-
tory, and sing the final dirge over
icloss father Blessed minister, said
|. with a sigh, may you stand at my bed
! side, when iIla Is about 10 hc cXtinguish-
ed, and whisper peace 10 my depart
my soul love minister OF God; for
! there is a charm IN his smile, and an.
inspiration n in his soothing language, That
,nethinks, is more.of heaven than Of
earth. He speaks like Il kld Gather to
the ch!dien Of sorrow, and points out
the path Of happiness to poor erring man.
so did he sreak on his occasion, and
he endcayoured to speak consolation TO
the hearts that were torn with anguish.
saw them bear tho father to the
brink Of the awful grave. A fond moth
cr's weeping eye looked down into the
gloomy vault, and paUg of sorrow sunk
deep INTO her feeling heart. She wopt
for her bosom trend and her fatherless
children. They were at her side, and
! she felt that they were wthering like
roses that bloom by the solitary tomb
! There her son too looked down into the
home OF his father, and he burst into
/ tears, when he thought there his own
best friend must crumble into dust. He
weh like fond child, when he reAec-
ted that the cold earth was his pillow,
anu that The green grass, waving darkly
! TO the n,aht breeze, would sing ms ouly
lullaby Y.uth and beauty stood round
the grave, and lhey sighed when they
/ remembered that some of their fathers
wcro beneath their feet, or would, ere
long, be borne 10 the lonely spot. Many
a ,car-drop stole from the dark blue eye
OF benuty, like the dew-drop from the
violet, when she thought ikat her lovely
form must mouider into dust with her
fathers, and the old men, venerable with
yeas, looked upon their children and
sighed And there stood many an or
phan, and widow too, by the grave, and
their hearts wIthered as they looked
upon the mournful bier, and remember
cd the goodness Of his heart. lie was
the widows friend! His bps were the
counsellors of innocence oppressed, AID
his hand was the protector Of the niur-
ed orPhun II was he that released the
grasp oil avarico, and caused tho blush
OF shame on the cheek Of oppression.
Yea, It was he that wiped the tear from
the eye Of sorrow, and relieved the wants
OF indigenee. lie was friend to JUS