Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-28
FOX THE FREE PRESS.

1hc ScasoH % renovation mas arrived
Nature. srrayed in her gayest livery re-
Joices-her groves are melody, her fields
are fragrance, and her breezes lull the
troubled spirit to repose. This i. the pc
Rod, too. for the affections Of the heart 20
be revived: and this is tho appropriate
time for visiting the tombs Of departed
friends! IL il has been decreed, that all
Nature shall be yearly resuscitated, surely
u j. meet for the affectionate heart annu.
ally to rekndle the flame OF deviation upon
ITS altar.
A custom prevails in some Of the coun-
tries Of Europe. which. though some may
deem IL supersiitious. I consider. no; only
innocent. but worthy Of imitation. II is
that Of repairing. in the spring. 60 the
abodes Of the dead. to remodel and decor
ate the graves Of beloved friends and rela
lives The earth is freshly moulded upon
the slumbering tenant of the tomb. the sod
Is dressed anew. and flowers are cultiva-
ted. TO bloom as the emblem. Of reanima-
ted affection. 1.-The grave Of those we
love-what q place. for mediation"
II then, We deem it duty 10 cherish.
with an undying feeling, the memory Of
our former companions upon earth. is
these not an especial propriety in culiiva
ting some memorial Of their worth. when
removed from Us by the icy hand Of death I?
How Notifying TO the soul Of sensibility
must it be, TO reflect. that those who now
almost idoliZe Us on earth. Will carelessIy
trample Cd the turf " hich covers our moul
dering remains AS though Memory had
been rooted out from the heart, That
the beasts Of the field will be permitted 90
Craze IN careics.ness on the green sward
which Heavens dews and rains have pro-
duced That the tomb stone will be mu.
tilaied and defacedl And our last resting
place become waste grounds. for The pro
dncdon Of thistles and rank weeds!
lbave lately traversed the precincts Of
ChaTiestowu. and { havo noticed more
than one neglected burying place. have
given scope to the gloomy reflections pro-
duced Ivy the scene and have wondered
IL affection had departed from the human
breast When l recollected the venera-
ton which even savages feel for the graves
O. their friends. have beea ready TO wish
] belonged to the savage race. If, thought
!. the refinemcnts of civilized life, thus
pervert the natural current Of the soul.
and, like the polish upon marble. only ren
der ats hardness more apparent. give me
the untutored sons Of the forest for my
L CotbpdUtObs-ae let NE tedrD from them
the depth. the holiness. the undying cha
raeter Of genuine affection. II Is no won.
der this portion Of the human family re-
coil from the fascinating Establishments
of Civilized life. when they fad how little
we venerate the memory Of our entomLed
relatives
Let me, thea. suggest 10 the citizens Of
Our town and ocigliborhood. some atlen
ton to this suhjert Let IL be our re.
proaeh no longer. that iboss over whom
we have noaaEa@d at the grave. lie unfoT
gotten and unexpected. Let enclosures
be speedily prepared; and let ne. when
we consign 10 the tomb. ono ef Heaven
fsifest gifts. be enabled. like Hamlet, ,n
aheeilonaie sorrow, Co eHeiaim--
"fsy her ~ the eafih.
And from her fair and unpolluied flesh,
Nav violeis SPRING"
Let ~ be the custom 81 the opening
spring. 10 scar. ss.ih tsndcrness and sHre-
ton. the earliest and latest flowers Of the
SEASON, upon the graves Of those we love .
" For ihcy arc embicns % the heart,
Of things q canuot sec--
Embirms which have ihcir counterpart
In heavens eternity"
RAMBLER.