Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-16
ttTom 1s Uniisd States Ga,e,hl
TnE PHILOSOPHY OF WOMAN's RELIGION.

Ie ""o saiutes every passenger, may sometimes
receive an uucivil answer; he who returns no sal
uta,ion, or inumates an unwilingness to exchange
might incur the risk Of being marked down
Tor a churl. In the way of error, it is better to be
passive then active: so ] End a kindly look for all
VINO pass me, beyond the precincts Of the CRY. IL
costs. Indeed, an occasional penny extraordinary for
n mendicant; but the "God bless yoa"Sf a human
oein2' must surely have lost its value, if it viii not
pass I'M exchange for SO small n sum.
Enjoying the prime ofthe day in September last,
about two miles from the city,I CHANGED to meet the
good morning" ola man with a cordiality that evil
aenty gained me a favorable estimation with him;
ana as ms occupation was before him and mine was
L put ceremony aside ut once, bv asking
upon subjects connected with a farm,
winch 1t seemed he was cultivating. While he was
engaging upon u topic that was evidently pleasing
W MN, though, L must confess, it had little inte-
rest for me, beyond the pleasure of witnessing his
ahiinaiion, his wife came to the door with an infant
IN ner arms l may nave done her wrong in neglect;
but the child possessed attractions superior to its
parents at that moment; md, as ii conscious of my
feelings. the nursing stretched out it's hands, and
eVlnccd n desire to approach me. learned that it
was an only son-thc last of five; affections that
had expanded over oil others, had settled with iMcn-
sity upon this-it was worth all Il parents love: /
gazed long upon its perfect features, the soft blue
eyes and full dark lashes; and as ] pressed my lips
upon Its face, the balny fragrance of its breath was
redolent OF health. | had won upon the mothers
esteem, by my attention to her boy; but a tear that
tch from my eve, warm upon the infant breast, show
cd her that while | ioycd with her in the living, 1
Neu w u''v uiulCilOn SyWDJtniSc WIKI u iOI tHe
dead.
know not now It was, hui for some time there
was scarcely n morning that did not pass the house
In my ride, and the boy though not II year old, had
learned tn expect nc. Let those who have not n
f~ondncss for children, pass on the other side OF the
way--thcre is enough in life with which to amuse
themselves. | neither envy them their capacities for
other enjoyments, nor would give ono of that infants
stIlles oil recognition, for all their iancicd pleasure.
The equinoctial rains made sad work with my
rlrcuiauons of riding, and it was not until the weather
became settled that | was enabled to renew my won
ted excursions. IL WINS about } o'clock, =. M. that |
approached the dwelling of my now acquaintance;
and as its low roof met my sight, the thought occur
red, whether my little blue eyed friend would, after q
! lapse oftwo weeks recognize his former acquaintance.
l confess that, as moved towards him, some little
anxiety was experienced that he should give evidence
OF pleasure at my return. | had furnished nv pock-
cts with some trifes for him, and anticipated his
pleasure at their reception-the delight with which
he would reach forward to catch them, and the plea
sure that would dance i'll his eye or play round his
mouth, as he received the tokens of my affection.
His mother, too, had ever shown so much grati6ca-
ton at my tonduess for her boy, that ! promised my
sell pleasure In her delight.
Pursuing these anticipatiuns, / arrived, by a short
turn In the road, directly i'm front of the dwelling.
without discovering q single member OF the family.
Inc stopping OF the horse in front OF the house, |
thought, would soon bring some one to the door. |
waited several Inlnutes-no one appeared. The FAM
ny might be absent, or, perhaps sick; the last thought
determined me; so dismountinr, | opened the wicker
gaze, and proceeded under an arbor of grape vines to
the house. The front door was open, and l entered.
Inc parlour was vacant; as ! was crossing it, ! saw
the door OF 4 side room opened; | turned towards it
ana the cause OF the unwonted silence OF the habita-
ton, was before me. On a table against the wall of
the room, rested a coffin. With Il single step / was
at ITS side; | looked in; it contained the inanimate
form OF my little favorite.. For a moment / turned
away in the agony of disa ppointment; I looked aUain
1T was too true; and my hopes, childish almost as
those | had excited in him, lay blighted. As / pazed
upon the cold remains before me, my feeling, subsidized,
4 and 1 rpCDVpFpI that tOnp which Tho ,ynn II.
mind never loses. 1t was but TO divcst myself of
those acquired feelings concerning death, and the
child that lay. before me, was as lovely and AS de-
serving admiration as when alive. The beau; ifuI
giOssiness OF his prominent forehead, was set off by
the hnc silky hair that stretched in a semicircle To-
ward the temples; there was a transparency in the
skin. through which the blue veins showed with won
dertnl distnictncss; and the budding Wilderness Of the
teeth was discernabie between the slightly opcncd
lips; ats little hands were crossed below it's trcast-
their beauty had not departed. But the eyes, az
they gazed upwards, CLEANED CLASSY between the
lids, through their long dark lashcs; and as
the light hickcred through the vines near
inc window, | sometimes thought that life was
returning TO- animate the lovely features on
which gazcd. | stopped to press a kiss upon the
FACET was cold; and the tears tha, I drooned
upon 1t, tricklcd off rs if they had fallen upon mol.
lshed marble. As raised my head from the cof-
mr. my eyes net those OF the mother. We raze
upon the dead with n regret for their loss; we look
upon the inanimate corpse of an infant, and mourn
that IT is so soon snatchcd away; we dwell with
iondness upon It's features, treasure the memorv
Of its beauties, and sigh that we can NOT longo,
enjoy them. But when We sec those whom rho
bereavement has lott chiluless standing by ne in
thc dignity OF grief, the silent cause of sorrow vet
stretched before, we shrink almost with awe from
their presence. Such for n moment were ,n,
feelings. wished myself absent from tho scene
mat was about to ensuc; but the extended hand
OF the afflicted parent, satisfied ne that retreat
would have been cruelty of cowardice. ! pressed
tbe hand OF the mother III the ardour Of synpathv.
ana our tears TEL last upon the snowy shroud Of tho
outstrctchcd infant. She leaned forward, and bI-
ned her face with his in the narrow cUfin.--F earin,
the effects of this paroxismo( giicf upon the mother.
! would have withdrawn her. 'Lct me alone," said
She 81 know by whom have been afflicted, md in
my sorrow VIII not siif neither will | 'charre God
f%oolishy.' But in my darling sickness, he Iay nirbt
AVID day on my knees, until he died; and tile kind
oHicIousncss OF n%cighbOrs has kept me from SOLITARY
indulgence Of grief until now. Let mo, then, ere tbev
shut hlfO out of my sight forcvcr-let me once more
ieef hs face lnpriuting its features on nv neck
'bthough IL be cold as death. 7 carne to Weld in. in
d. nA. 40 81