The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
A MONUMENT TO A MOTHERS GRAVE.
FLOWER GATHERING.

The flowers that spring up on the sunny side of
hilltcks beneath remnants OF snow banks, are very
small and entirely scenless, and the little beauty
which Is imputed TO them, Is chiefly from contrast
with the desolaion and coldness in hich they are
found"
The death Of friend who never spared
fault Of my character, nor found virtue which
he did not praise, had cast gloom over my
mind, which no previous deprivation had pro-
duced. remember how sceptcal and heart
always eqt heart st tSSa his grave, while
the clergyman touched too little on his virtues,
and spoke with humble confidence, that he
would spring from the tomb to an Immortality
Of happiness and suggested the promises Of
Scripture, and argued with logical precision,
from texts and analogies, that my friend should
rise from the dead. Dependency is not more
the child than the parent Of unbelief-deep
grief makes us selfsh--and the naturally timid
and nervous, lose that confidence in promises,
including their own particular wish, which
they yield TO them, when the benefit Of others
are alone proposed. A little learning is dan.
gerous in such matters we suffered mental
argument upon the probability Of an event
which we so much desired, to displace the
simple faith which would have produced COM
parative happiness. Those who have contend
ed with, and at length yielded to this despond-
ency, alone know its painful operation.
Occupied with thoughts resulting from such
an unpleasant train oil mind, followed into
burying ground, in the suburbs Of the city, a
small train Of persons, not more than dozen,
who had come to bury one Of their acquaint-
ance. The clergyman in attendance, was lead
ing little boy by the hand, who seemed to be
the only relative OF the deceased in the slender
group l gathered with them round the grave,
and when the plain coffin was lowered down,
the child burst forth in uncomfortable grief.
The little fellow had no one left to whom he
could look for affection, or who could address
him in tones of parental kindness. The last Of
his kinsfolk was in the grave-and he was
alone.
When the clamorous grief Of the child had
little subsidized, the clergyman addressed US
with the customary exhortation to accept the
monition, and be prepared and turning to the
child, he added "She is not 10 remain in this
grave forever; as true as the grass which is
now chilled with the frost Of the season, shall
spring to greenness and life in q few months,
so true shall your mother come up from that
grave to another life, to life of happiness,
hope" The attendants shovelled in the earth
upon the coffin, and some one took little Will
liam, the child. by the hand, and led him forth
from the lowly tenement of his mother.
Late in the ensuing spring, was in the
neighborhood Of the same buryng ground, and
seeing the gate open, walked among the
graves for some time, reading the names OF
the dead, and wondering what strange disease
could snatch off so many younger than myself
when recollectng that was near the grave
ofthe poor widow, buried the previous autumn,
turned to see what had been done to preserve
the memory Of one 80 utterly destitute Of
earthly friends. To my surprise, found the
most desirable Of all mementos for mothers
sepulchre-little William was sitting near the
head Of the now sunken grave, looking in
tently upon some green shoots that had come
forth with the warmth Of spring, from the soil
that covered his mothers coffin.
William started at my approach, and would
have left the place it was long before could
induce him to tarry; and indeed ! did not
win his confidence, until told him that was
present when they buried his mother, and
had marked his tears at the time.
"Then you heard the minister say, that my
mother would come up out Of this grave y
said little William.
al did"
alt is true, is it not I" asked he, in tone
Of confidence.
81 most firmly believe it," said I.