Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-09-08

MISCELLANEOUS.
THE BCRIAI.

IHE BURIAL
There was a JOY on earth-the twit-
terIng swallow, as it darted along in
sunshine and shade. needed not the
bitter wailings of affiiction and dis.
tress-the wild bird in its noiscless
flight. softly silent as falls the snow
fake, seemed unmindful of wo, as il
flashed its wing across the vision, like
thought Of dream during the hush
ed hours of midnight, and vanished as
suddenly. To me the sight of their
Joyous felicity brought no gladness-
the sounds Of their mirth fell cold up.
on my heart-it seemed but bitter
mockery and spoke of DAYS depart.
ell. The bright and aushing skies
seemed Insensible that they were smi-
ing over ruin and decay that one Of
hopes fairesr, sweetest flowers. had
dropped and died and that now
even now--was TO be laid in the earth's
cold bosom.
| had seen the child 10 rs suileless
beauty, when it was thing al glow
ing with health. Innocence and icv-I
had seen 1t folded ia toe arms nj
her That bore it, Ia all the ovcrwhelm-
ing fondness of mothers love-
go But now her first born bles-iug--hcr
first, last, and only one, slspt-not on
the soft bosom Of mothers tender
ness-but with the quiet dead -
Death, death! how lovely canst thou
be &. Though pale and lifeless, il wore
smile passionless aud pure as the
cherub Of immortality--it had nothing
OF the corpse about IL, but its white
ness-nothins Of the grave-but its
stiffness. So beautiful, It seemed like
the spOriive lamb, decked for the sacri-
lice. l could family have laid down
by her side in the cold bosom of our
common mother, in the dark and silent
valley.
Thou weepest, childless mother
ali! we'll thou mayst--the Son Of God
wept at the tomb Of his friend-and
thou mournest thy frst-born. Hard
is it for thee TO lay thy loved one
low in the damp earth, beneath the
cold clOds Of the valley-hard is it to
reflect that this, thy child of peerless
beauty, will never more raise its rosy
lips to thine, in nil the fondness Of
childhood's warmest affection. All!
these are recollectious that weigh upon
the soul, even To overpowering.-
Memory tells thee that thou art desc
late-it tells, too, Of playful smiles
OF thousand soft and winning ways
that twine around the mothers bosom:
it tells Of the sweet wild throbbings Of
unspeakable bliss, that were thine
when softly soothing il to slumber and
repose. Now, the foliage Of the cy-
press will be its shelter; and the mar
row house It's abiding place; the nsrscry
will no more resound with its glad
some mirth--thc cradle in which Il had
80 often reposed in qriet - now desc
late. Thou weepest, childiess mo,her
The last look. The time is conc
when she may gaze once more upon
her sleeping boy. ere the pail Is set
tied upon It's lifeless brow. Oh! the
bitter agony Of that moment-ope
long burning kiss upon his marble fore.
head, and he il shut from her view. In
the fuIlness Of her grief she says.
No more, my baby. shalt ,liou fir
With drowsv smile. snti half si.Yt eye
PiioNei upon tiy u,othsr's bTtAF.
Screuely sinking into rest.
F.r Col hafh iaid tllec down O. l-rp,
lake pure pearl beneath ia decp.
Look abroad, fond mother, upon the
ways Of sinful men, anil repine no
more tina, God hath made ely child sr
angel IN the regions of bliss Now
his song mingles with the Thanksgiving
OF the blest,-sano tilted. safe and Sc.
cure from the stormy blasts ofiniquity,
with him who is from everlasting.
The long train Of weeping friends
gathered round fresh dug grave. The
cofha was lowered into It's final resting
place, 10 the vale Of solitude and a.
lenee-ths spirit Of him who was %
lovely here bad, ere this, crossed IN,
dark waiers--and ia safely landed
upon the aowsry coast Of world o.
lldslcss Bloom T.P.