Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-05-23

der group. gathered with them round
inc grave, and when the plain coffin was
lowered down, the child burst forth in an.
comfortable grief. The little fellow had
no one left to whom he could look for ac
lection, or who could address him in tones
of parental kindness. The last of his
kInsfolk was in the grave-and he wa,
alone.
When the clamorous grief Of the child
had a little subsidized, the clergyman ad.
dressed US with the customary ex~hortation
to accept the monition, and be prepa.
red and, turning to the child, he added
"She Is not to remain ir this grave for
ever 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, 30 true shall your mother come
up from that grave to another life, to a
life o~fhappiness, hope" The atten.
dants shovelled in the earth upon the COT.
I'm, and some n took little William, the
child, by the hand, and led him forth from
the lowly tenement Of his mother.
Late in the ensuing spring, l was in
the ne~ighbourhood of the same burying
ground, and seeing the gate open, | walk
ed among the graves for some time, rea-
ding the names of the dead, and wonder.
ing what strange disease could snatch of
so many younger than mysels-when re.
collecting that | was near the grave OF
the poor widow, buried the previous au-
tumn, turned to see what had been done
to preserve the memory of one so utterly
destitute Of earthly friends. To my sur
prise. | found the most desirable Of all
mementos for a mothers sepulchre-little
William was sitting neal the head Of the
now sunken grave, looking intently upon
some green shoots that had come forth
with the warmth offspring, from the soil
that covered his mothers coffin.
William started at my approach, and
would have left the place /; it was long be-
fore | could induce him to larry and, in.
deed, | 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 ,his
grave" said little William.
a did,"
III is true, is it no, 7" asked he in a
tone of conidence.
{" most firmly believe it," said I.
Believe it," said the child" believe
it thought you knew i'll know it,"
elbow do you know it, my dear ="
The minister said, that az true az tine
grass would grow up, and the flowers
bloom in the spring, SO true would my
mother rise. came a few days after.
ward, and planted flower SEED on the
grave. The grass came green in this
burying ground long ago; and | watched
every day for the flowers, and to-day they
have come up too-see them breaking
through the ground-by and by nanny
will come again."
A smile of exulting hope play ed on the
features Of the boy and | felt panied at
disturbing the faith and confidence with
which he was animated.
"But, my little child" said /, cit
is not here that your poor mother will
rise."
Eyes, here" said he, with emphasis
there they placed her, and here | have
come ever since the first blade of grass
was green this year."
l looked around, and saw that the tiny
feet Of the child had trod out the heritage
at the grave side, so constant had been
his attendance Whnt n c,..hC.l ,u...L
keeper-what mother would desire a rich.
er monument than the form of her only
son, bending fearful, but hoping, wei her
grave?
"But, William" said |, cit is in anoth-
er world that she will arise,"-and | at.
tempted to explain to him the nature OF
that promise which he had Mistaken
The child was confused, and he appeared
neither pleased nor satisfied.
elf nanny Is not coming back to me
If she is not to come up here, what shall
! dol cannot stay withou, her."
"You shall 60 to her." said |, adopting
the language of the Scripture-"you shall
60 to her, but she shall not come again 10
you"
"Let me go, them" said William, "let
me go now, that I may rise with mann.
my"
"William," said |, pointing down to the
plants just breaking through the ground,
"the seed which is own there, would not
have come up, if 1t had not been ripe SO
you must wait till your appointed time,
until your end comsth."
"Then | shall see her 7"
81 surely hope So"
81 will wait, them" said the child,
but thought | should see her soon--I
thought | should meet her here"
And he did. In a month, William cea-
sed to wait; and they opened his moth
er's grave, and placed his little coffin on
hers-it was the only wish the child ex-