Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-04-17

ouJect, OF Tue uistinct impressions OF 'Hoso HPh'
had passed. the twilight was fast fading into night
went TO II. and was able TO ascertain that il
weepng willow How fiji. thought I, to grow in
this place of the dead and as il to I've more s,ri
king emblem ofthe weeping heart Of many suryi-
Sor, it occupied app,renty, the centre of the yard,
and threw out, all around, its pendent branches,
reaching almost 10 the ground
II struck me, moreover, rs particularly expressive
OF the inconsolabie sadness Of some extraordinary
sufferer hy bereavement, whose heart, ever fruitful
in grief, supplies continual nousishment to lcspon-
dcncy. until it, at length, bows the lovely form al
most to the earth under its bending weight.
Perhaps accident placed it there. Blu, may it
no, rather be supposed that some tender heart, in
the plen,ud of its srieffor dear relative, friend
tecming with mournful associations, caught the
analogy between its feelings and their beautiful
pcssntativc, and planted it beside the grave Of
much loved one7
But The hand that placed it there as memorial
Of grief worn heart has whered in death, ana ils
sadness, we would fain hope, has been exchanged
for the sunny JOYS Of Paradise, in company
with the ios one it mourned for bitterly here,
who together share the bliss of heaven, the more de-
licous by of the sorrows Of earh, as the sun
is bright ard joyous p his aspect, whcn after
a long conccnment, he bursts in glory fiom the de-
parted clouds which have emptiej their drenching
waters.
Though it was originally intended as sign Of
greving heart and becomes general representative
Of sorrow for the dead still. it may well be concei-
we'd 10 answer the purposs of weeping over tue dc.
soatons d the graveyard, and the indifference man.
ics.cd tow ard the dead by many surviving relatives
and friends.
! o. tha, they would go thiiher apd view the droop-
ing tree until they feel its reproof, and are stirred up
| torepsir the damages Of time and negligence, and
leave 10 i,l,s only proper Office now-which it will
mos, tenjerly and fiithfsliy pcrfoTm-to 'ceep Dih
The hring {or tie dea&.
| Having left The solemn spot, and pursuing my
! way back 10 the town my mind was burdened with
thoughts of the desolations had jus, witnessed,
and my spirit, deeply wounded bled under an al
fcrive sense OF The SELFISH ii not erect Indifference
which is 80 often manifested toward The Sleeping
,
Indignation, reached my lodgings, snatchcd up my
pen, and poured forth my feelings in strain which
I concluded was almost sufficient to vivify the very
dead, and call them forth to avenee themselves on
account Of their desecralel and neglected TOMS s.
Now. thinks I, ye guilty inhabitants Of Anonoma,
We shall lie made TO feel il not to act; and surely
ye deserve severe chsstiscment. | viii hold up
before you yoer shame, until you catch the sympa.
thy. Du, if shame have led, will strike at your
pride, and a,temp, to draw from your wounded ho-
nor, what cannot be ,xorcd from affection, dccency
and REL giun. Well satisfied with my ciIusion, and
with the design cf inh!cting meri,cd rcbuke if even
my main oblcct should not be accomplished, which
, was greatly desired by me, I committed myself to
the God Of the dead and the living, and tried TO in
wife calm sleep. But in this was disappointed. for
the images Of briers, dCcaying fences, broken tomb
stones, and sunken graves haunted me, and preven.
ted any Thing more than uneasy and itful sumber.
Late in the night however, exhausted nature proved
victorious over the excited nerves, nnd sank into
a sound sleep totn, which awake to scTene and
beautiful morning, with tranquil and properly
/ balanced mind Almost the ifst subject of thought
was my visit to the Old Church, on the previous
evening. Though my judgment was now more
consulted than ny feelings, siill, The reality of what
had seen inpressvcly remained, and the propriety
and importance of urging attention 10 christian
/ and civilized regard for the mortal remains OF our
! kindred and friends, were scarcely diminished or
! less affecting.
! Blu, will pursue the subject no farther, rs, me-
thinks reflection is waking mp the feelings of kindlcd
| and humanity in the bosoms of The inhablsants Of
Anonoma. and soon they will wipe this reProachfu
bio, from their character. Long may they live to
enjoy the sight of their renewed, and inviting,
graveyard; aad, when they die, may they leave he
hind them those who will! take a pleasure in pro.
ieeting their grares, and rearing upon them tie
fo,oers Of lore.