South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-03-28
MtgrellaMenus.
From the Christian Spectator.
THE GRAVEYARD, OR THE HAP
PY MEETING

| FROM the Cnrlstlan spectator.
THE GRAVEYARD, OR THE HAP
/ Ply MEETING.
"Oh ever thus from childhoods hour,
I've seen my fondest hopes decay
| never loved tree nor flower,
But twas the first to fade away"
The family Of Mr.. Hadley had been
sorely visited by the mysterious dis
ease that has lately filed our land with
mourning snatching alike the tender
infant and the hoary-headed man the
statesman that fll'd high places, and
the wretch that lives by murder and
villainy.
Swiftly, and Often, had the arrow Of
death flown amid the late happy fami-
Iy at Elmwood cottage. And, as the
father and two sons had been called on
to depart to the people-she pale ma.
lions Of the dead,-the bereaved wife
and mother thought, as she retired to
pray, that her only daughter, the sole
prop other journey down the pathway
of life, might be left to cheer her, as
the sun of her existence set in eternity.
But the pale king had already enrolled
the name of the lovely girl in his re-
gister Of death, and the gleamings of
the next moon played upon her grave
as she quietly slept by the side Of those
she had once dearly loved.
The gales Of adversely had waited
me to the shores of America, and !
had bat few months since landed,
when ] determined to take a stroll into
the country. AS l passed grave
yard, | discovered an elderly lady en-.
ter, she did not at first perceive me-
AS she turned round | saw the marks
of grief in her features. Being quite
near her | ventured TO speak MA
DAM said |, you seek the grave of
some friend, | supposedly passing
may interrupt you at such an interest
ing moment The tear stood in her
eye. Excuse me, SIR she replied,
'but grief must have vent. Ifyou have
lost friend, or relative, then you can
bear with me. This rose hold, is to
bloom over my daughters grave but
my Julia, trust, is brighter flower
in the paradise OF her God. Morning,
noon and night, will water with my
tears this emblem of my sainted child.
Oh !! sir, | am alone in the world.'-
'Say not so, madam | replied, 'your
blessings are yet greater than your
griefs. Be comforted, you are the mo-
ther Of an ANGEL Il thank you, SIR
said she, 'for your kind words--the
thought Of reunion only sustains me,
and kindes the same feeling in my
grief.stricken bosom as arises in that of
a sea-tossed mariner, when his eye
lights upon sunny island 10 stormy
sea- These four graves hold all love
on earth save one. know no, where
he is--in heaven perhaps. But / tire
you with my tale of woe sir.' 'Pro-
coed, madam, | replied eighteen years
absence from fathers roof has thrown
me amid many scenes ofsorrow and Of
joy. Your story, though sad one,
imparts melancholy pleasure.'
my native land, sir, is beyond the
ocean. We had been settled here but
a short time, when the hand of the
Lord was laid so heavily upon US, hap.
Ply in our family circle, and respected,
believe, by our neighbors. The dis.
ease has taken nearly all from our set.
Element, and ia the last moments of
those dear departed ones, scarcely any
assistance was at hand but all that
mothers love and wife's fondness
could suggest to retain them with US,
was done. That, sir, is our cottage on
the hill. Oh, | dread to return to it.
Sometimes fancy l heard my daugh-
ter's Joyous voice, -'tis but the echo OF
her angel song in heaven. My oldest
sen, --' here the torrent of her grief
was Embossed, and drawing down her
long black veil, she turned aside and
wept. could not refrain, who could :
Blu. quickly recovering herself, she
said, 'but / mus, plant this flower ere
it withers-but Julia will bloom forev.
err Permit me to assist you, madam,
10 this sacred Duty
We soon removed the earth from the
! grave, and the flower was transplanted.
Mrs. II. turned to gaze upon the
graves, when | reminded her that the
shades ofevening were drawing around
US, and must bid her adieu. Accom-
pany me, sir, to the house, said she,
some refreshment might be acceptable
after your long walk this afternoon"
We soon arrived there.