Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-06-18
NO, 25.

the right hand or TO the LETT, the heart rightly
attuned, finds where to drop a tear for grief,
or heave 4 sigh for error.
Improving the opportunity which a pre-
cious spring offered for an early morning
walk, found myself a short time since,
near the enclosure ola burying ground on
the borders of the city. Whether it was
TO hold discourse with those for whom fate
has marked me an early companion; or to
minister to that melancholy which the
smitten must always endure, stopped not
to enquire; but removing the slight fast
ming of the rate, ] entered the "city of the
dead7-to read the mcmentos Of earthly
vanity. Among the young spires Of grass
that were starting from the graves, were
strewed thousand minute white blossoms,
dothng the hillocks and casting a slight
perfume upon the chilly air. | gathered 4
few as / passed on, and thought them Ike
the promises ofchldhoOd, only bloming for
early waste.
Meditating upon the scene before me, l
was unconcious ofthe presence Of any hui
man being, till lifting my eye, discovered
that another had entered the enclosure. /
had leaned upon q headstone, and stood
unseen by him.
1t was man who bore upon him the
marks of four score years, ifgrief, indeed,
had notmingled in the account. When ne
first met my sight he was standing beside
an unsodded grave; as he gazed downward
upon the new made hillock, sigh burst
from his bosom, that told how much he had
yielded to death.
"And this is all, " said the old man-"ali
fthat youth promised and manhood labor
ed for. From among the host Of those who
shared my blood, stand solitary and time
smitten upon the grave of the last Of my
children-and there was none to save her
upon whom my life rested. My hand, pal
sled with grief and age, closed her eyes;
with tears and prayers ] dismissed her
spirit, when mine should have beckoned
her up to her kindred enjoyment"
d" have called you, my child, in the ST.
lerce of night; and the echoes Of my
voice, have told me | am chldloss. Ihaye
gazed around upon the croud-but it is a.
peopled solitude; there is no eye to bless me
no tongue to callme father. Why am
doomed to breathe to walk forth among
men, without fellowship in their feelings;
why, when the sun shines upon, without
warming my frame-why do not his beams
rest upon the sod above me, while sleep
unconscious Of bitterness and woq"
The mourner fell forward upon the grave
before him; and as he exhibited 10 sion
oflife, approached him. Ills frame, which
had lost some Gifts height by bending over
the grave, now exhibited, all of manly
mould and strength that years of grief had
spared. His hathad fallen from his head,
and his gray locks were strewed around,
as ifa tempest had sweptthem. Ispoke-
but he returned no answer There appear
ed a sacredness in his grief upon which,
for worlds, could not have niruded. /
therefore, waited--but no movement from
the being before me, gave token Of life. /
advanced, and touched him--he testified
no sense Of my presence. ! stopped, and
turned his face from the ground-but no
change Of features indicated life, and the
fixed glossiness of ms eyes, seemed to say
that he had passed to the fruition Of his
wishes.
Raising his body, Iplaccd myselfon my
knees by his side, and with some exertions
induced symptoms of returning life. The
freshness of the morning breeze aided my
exertions, and warmth and motion once
more visited his limbs. As bis eyes ga
thered back the light, they rested upon tho
grave before him, and a consciousness Of
his situation returned. "You have wit
messed my unmanly complaints, and seen
me give up all TO soHow,' said he. in-
timated that entered the yard before him
but ! had observed him with painful SYM
lpa'hy.
"Then you have known affection"
said he.
| pointed to early gray hairs and fur
roBed brow. The sufferer gave my hand
a conyulsive grasp, and a slight flush that
had suffused his face passed off, / aided
1 him to rise from the damp ground on which
he was setting, and conducted him to q
tomb-where, seating ourselves, ! fearn-
ed, in a few words, the hle Ofthc grief-worn
father
Hehad lived in one ofthe eastern states.
The misfortunes and early death ofan on
liz son, had broken the mothers heart
She died soon enough to be spared the
shame Of a dishonofed youngest daughter.
The father gathered the little that was left
from the wreck ofhis property and with his
remaining child-his eldest daughter lelt