Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-01-05
For The Democrat.

rEr GRAVE Or -
rhe solemn hour approached
m. hour Of sepulture for all the gIorts
ri ,lr expiring Year,-OYer the earth
n,rL shadows rathercd-the heavens extended
Wide a satle pail, and not one star
Looked on, upon a scene so sad. flushed was
The voice Of man, for Natures voice alone
Might wall a requiem DER the Seasons grave,
siobnc in solemn strain, that fl'd my ear
with mournlul melody, and on my heart.
fell like The voice of dying Friend, chanting
IN oamtiye measure his iuneraldlrgc;
And thus, while darkness reign'd. and silence as
or Death peryadcd air, and earth, and sky
/. That solemn STRAIN came stealing on my ear;
Spripp, fairest of the Daughters OF the Year,
That camst with smiling air, and balmy BREATH
And eve that blessed whom il fell upon,
4To cheer and beautfy my sad domain
Whittier with all thy ovcliness, and show
OF fairy flowers and foliage gay, and mcads
At thy approach in beauty smiling bright
All, whittier hast thou past thy soothing voice,
Whispering through yerdant grove and vnc-clad
bower,
No more hear; nor at thy sportive call
Does teIl-taIe Echo wake along the borders
OF the bubbhne stream. Summer thou d'dst lee
In an thy pride, like yernal flower by fate
Un,mcly DO ne upon the hollow blast,
That enyious vlew'd its bloom, then gave It
70 the winds. Pale Autumn child of sorrow
And OF song, thou conest with mournIuI ar,
And plaintive Tyre, to wall the falling
OF the leaf, and mourn in unison with
Nature, Earth's slorles fading al the touch
or Time Along my leahess wales and bowers,
THY touching voice was heard in sadness
Moaning, and " Melancholy wandered there
70 weep" as with a sigh thou ieddst away
Howl, Winter! howl with all thy blasts and storms
dlrse deep, ound and long, DER Nature 5 tomb
Then DER nv bosom chill thy snowy
Mantle cast, till zephyr mild, in Spring ofsh'
Hour sha. melt thy icy chain, and wake me
10 new life, and light, and JOY"
The solemn hour appreach'd-
The hour of sepulure for myrads
Whose sun of Life that year had sci IN shades
VI DEAN, BESIDE a Slitht, SouhiS 60
stood Memory's pale gimmerlng ray
Upon its darkness visible a transient
.Lustre cast, and showd il deep and wide,
Garnshd with trophies grim and horrible,
That full upon me gared with hollow
Glazed eve. From the dread scene turn'd, but
still
That gllmmering ray whcre'er Il urn'd, scFVd
Only 10 disclose yawning tomb;
tomb deep-chly --dark-t last low Ded
Wherein the Sons of earth, tired with the toII8
OF Life short day, lie down and pass the long,
Long night of Death.
The innocent babe,
In dawn Of being snatch'd romev day
To come, lay there at rest; and by its side
The Mother-sacred name that ever wakes
A thousand thoughts of tenderness and love-
As sweetIy slept, nor felt one III that HE
sheir to.--The lovely Maid, in Beauiys
Bloom, and LIES young hope, friends the PRIDE
An object dearer still 10 ove-Iorn swain,
Who liv'd upon her smile, and caught her voice
As strain of heavenly melody, he friends
And Lover left 10 weep in vale OF tears,
And made that Grave her Bridal bed.
The Youth, Of manly form, and countenance
lIlumed by spark ETHEREAL, whose eye
So lately beam'd with lustre all its own
Who, but yesterday, in social converse
Wh'led the hours away, passing before me
In LIES proud MISUNDERSTANDING TO holu
In scorn the Dart of Death--now cold ana ine'ess
Lay in ftnera paIl-ialIen his countenance--
His bright eye dim, and fed, forever He'd
His manly strength, and consciousness OF beng
What saw what saw not in The vast tomb:
The young and old-the high and loW-'he f'ch
And poor-the lord and slave, at Deaths ap
proach
ATrghted, here lroppd Lies mask, that scry'
brief
Space, 10 make distinction vast tween clay
And cay, and lay comingIed in the dust.
Among the dead stood-my thoughts
Were Of the dead lclt the nothingness
Of earthly flme--oi wealth below the stars
The nothingness-By memorys light looked
Far through the "postern OF years long elapsed
And vew'd the Ghosts of VANISHED hopes, thai,
once
30 bright and fair, careered before me
In LIES young day, leading me lkoughtless on
ITO guieiul shores and meads Of iata! joy
Or earthly bliss 1.-THE shadow Of a shade"
saw; aud while gazed, hollow voice
Thus fell upon my ear-thou seest the shade
Of earthly happiness, at whose shrine there
Late vast found worshipper devoui
And wilt thou worship longer al her shrine