The native American., 1839-02-02
THE MIND BEYOND THE GRAVE.
ny MRs. sIGoURNEY.


owe cannot but feel that we are beings at a
two-fold nature-that our journey TO the tomb IS
short, and the existence beyond is immortality IN
there any attainment that we may reserve, When
we Law down the body? We know that OF the
cold which pershes, we may take none with uswhen
dnst returr eth to dust. OF the treasures which
the mind accumulates may we carry aught Win
u.s. to that bourne, whence no traveller returns!
"We may have been delighted with the studies
of nature, and penetrated into those cavers Where
she perfects her chemistry in secret Composing
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS matter into nameless
forms-pursung the subtlest essences through the
air and resolving even that air into its original e!e-
lments-what will be the gain, when We pass from
material to inmaterial, and this great museum
and laboratory, the time-worn earh shall dissolve
in its own central fires
| "We may have become adopts in the physiolo-
| gy of man, scanning the mechanism OF the eye
till light itself unfolded its invisible laws--ot the
ear till its most hidden retculations confessed their
\ mysterious agency with sound--of the heart, till
THAT citadel Of life revealed its hermit pollcy-but
will these researches be available, in state OF
being which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived
"Will he who fathoms the water, and computes
its pressure and power, have need of this skill,
/ where there is no more scar WiIl the mathe-
matician exercise the lore by which he measured
| the nedVenS-Or tue dSuOHOinCl, ''e = = ASS ~
which he discovered the stars, when all ID to so
beyond their light?
| "Those who have penetrated most deeply into
the intellectual structure of man, lifted the curtain
from the birthplace of thought. traced the springs
of action to their fountain, and thrown the yeied
shrinking motive into the crucible, perceive the
object Of their study taking new form, enter
| disembodied an unknown state OF existence, and
receiving powers adapted to its laws and modes OF
intercourse
ave have no proof that the sciences, to which
years of labor have been devoted, will survive the
tomb. But the impressions they have made-the
dispositions they have nurtured-the good or evil
they have helped to stamp upon the soul--wil go
with it into eternity. The adoring awe, the deep
humility inspired by the study Of the planets and
their laws-the love Of truth, which he cherished
who pursued the science that demonstrates it
will find response among archange's. Ihe praise
that was learned amid the melodies of natere-'r
from the Tyre of consecrated genius-may pour
the perfected tones from seraph's harp. The
goodness taught in the whole frame of creation, by
the flower lifting its honey cup to the insect, and
1.-The leaf drawing it's green curtain around the nu-
sing chamber of the smallest bird--by the pure
stream refreshing both the grass and the itocks
| that feed on 1.-THE tree, and the master OF IT'S
| fuits-the tender charity caught from the happl-
ness of the humblest creatufe-wlll be at nome IN
His presence VINO hath Pfohooiceo n'"'sei' We
| God Of Love-
| "The studies, therefore which we pursue as the
means Of intellectual delight or the instruments
Of acquiring wealth and honor among men, are
valuable at the close of life only they have pro-
NOTED those dispositions which constitute the hiss
of an unending existence. Tested by its bearing
and results it transcends all other sciences The
knowledge which it imparts, does not perish win
the stroke which disuntes the body from ITS e'he-
real companion. Whilst its prssep!' ,; ,ra to 'hs
highest improvement Of tins state o. p''"an..' rs
spirit is congenial with the neifable reward to
which we aspire i IS hs preparha"n, h, i'r '"n'a o,
amid all the mutations Of time