The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-10-02
To- ,sn hsa srolsn The rnether's heart. The

,lv son hsa broken The rnethst's heart. The
father gathered the little that was lett from
the wreck Of his property, and with hisre'
naming child--his eldest daughter, lett
home, and those scenes which better days
had gilded with delight His age wassup'
ported. and his grief mtigated, by the as
siduous kindness of his child In this city,
after a short residence, his daughter De
came sick and died. She was buried IN the
grave we had just left.
"From infancy" said the old man, "lhat
child had clung to my affections; and when
kindred sunk to the tomb, wealth wtsted'
and friends grew cold, she swept from my
mind the cloud Of scontent-her love sup
ported all. When day after day, l crePt
to the bed in which sickness Ind stretched,
and where death watched his prey, have
| felt that the hour of separation was nIgh'
yet hoped not for life; no, that was VAIN
IL hoped that there was not enough OF
strength in my frame to bear her loss, ana
that | should sink with her, aud know out
one pang Of deaths bitterness.
"But few mornings since, sat peslde
hcr-istened with fondness to her voice
feeble, indeed, but to fathers ears, more
dear moro loved, even for its sepulchral
tones. Her arms had been thrown round
nv neck-I pressed her closely to my heart
and for one moment beam of Joy struck
upon nv mind raised myselfto press a
kiss upon her forchend--'twas cold and
white as this polished marble-her eye
was fixed in death They have buried her
in that grave--round which | walk dally,
seeking therein the only refuge which IS
left for my mlserles."
AS we rose from the tomb on which we
had been sitting, and moved towards the
I gate, the old man looked upon the grave Of
his daughter. An agonizing feeling chan.
ged his visage--but he gave it no utter
\ ance. We passed on the street, and were
about to separate extended my hand in
token Of my sympathy with the childless
and friendless stranger. lie grasped 1t
firmly, and tear. from fountain long
deemed arid, fell upon the symbols OF our
pledged sympathy.
"You know not" said the old man, Show
all absorbing and long endcarlng is the love
of a father for the deserving daughter
Time, that quenches other fires IN the heart
purifes' and strengthens that affection"
~ 81 have" continued he, in moments OF
+" sollt.ln tried to sound the sources Of this
8 teelIng--nVt peculiar though strong in my
{ bosom; but.in contemplating the effect, the
O causes seem to evadc me II ia surely all
: that we dream of purity in earthly love
o and all that imagination paints or faith Gas
g promise in higher and holer intercourse
. The father sees his face reflected in sotte
: and gentler iorms, in his infant daughter
@ her expanding mind catches its impression
a from his experience; in Joy, her particpa
g ton doubles her delight in sorrow, he
c sympathics and endearing fondness mit
! gate the pang In prosperity, she adorns
, in adversely, with kindly minlstrations, sh
+ lghtens,b by sharing the burthen; in the coll
and bitter cup of poverty, she mingles th'
ingredients of willing obedience and grow
L ing love-"
d "Such was mine--and looked, wher
- desires ceased and strength failed, to hav'
u passed away from life without groan, pill
lowing my palsied head upon daughter
le BOSOM"
d, A" But no--no, the blast that scatterc'
le branch and fruit, spent its force upon tn
e upholdng prop; and now the scathed trunk
d barren and leahess, totters at every breeze
1t lonely, proflless and unseemly."
d The old man again shook my hand will
u coneulslyo grasp and left me. locke,
j upon the grave of tho daughter, and turn
d cd to gaze upon the father, rs he move
% slowly from me--and felt that, for tn
IL mornings experience, for the powers o
y sympathy with the smitten and the lonely
,r il was "good for me that had been attic
X ted"