Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-04-17
ron THE AMERIcAN.
A Walk 10 an Old Church,
Early Impressions n,,d "Reminiscences rc-
mewed, and Moral Reflections suggested.



Tha, individual mus, bc a monster indc, d, who
does not show come good trait in his character,
though it should be the cifsprng Of pride or selfish
ness. Sinner as old Peter, ii has always been
said that he good sexton, and fair evidence
of this his attention to the graveyard, which
kept neat and clean, the grass cropped, graves sod
dtd the graveLwalk in repair, and he gates secu-
red. May the graveyard of the old Swceds' Church
he always favored with such guardian! But !, is
not cvry depository Of the dead which presents the
same neat and secure condition, as lhe conclusion
Of my walk will show.
As proceeded, the way became moro and more
interesting. The trees increased in number on oi-
ther side, and the entire scenery wos mere varied
and beautiful The land rose 10 the right and left
in gentle undulaiions, terminating in the distance,
al the tase Of lofty hl which wound around il
in scmi-circc. The interval was dotted with hum.
Le dwellings, and presented, in the remote view,
the dim outlines Of garden patches, aud here and
there browsing sheep, or slowly moving COW, the
,inklng Of whose bell fell on the ear, in its cxhaus
ted tones, in unison with the stiffness OF the even
ing, and heart tuned 10 solemn musing excited Ivy
the approach to the old Church, which jus, then
psepod, in lis shadowy form, through the foliage Of
the trees within which it was embosomed.
Absorbed ia the contcmpia,ions which such
merry and circumstances cannot fail to raise in the
mind Of the admirer Of the natural works OF the
Creator and of him who is properly affected by his
mortal dcsny, and the life ha! never fails, Ifound
myself suddenly. at the end Of lire wak in the midst
OF cump Of forest trees disposed in all their native
iregulari'y, and tow werng. through the miss of the
evening, in enlarged proportions, until they faded
from she view in the ascent. Imagination seized
the hint, and carried them upward on its vision,
until they were los, in the clouds, and, quick in its
connecting power enush, the double emblem. OF
earth and skies, mortality and immortality.
The mind, having been prepared for rcneciions
suited to the spot, was greatly quickcned through
the inae alton thus inIamed, and went forth with
facility and interest on oil the variety Of themes con-
genial with the enkinded spirit. The following
passed through it in rapid succession :-Time, NOR
tally. the probable histories of the dead sleeping
around it, the vanity and crime Of unchastcned ann
bi,ion ard love of earthly distinctions, the folly and
guilt of the unbrd!cd us, OF gain and pleasure the
madness OF that dissipation which dishonors and
embicrs life and hurres its victims .picmaturely to
the tomb, the dubious sh, shel the future state
l,y the wisos' and best Of The heather philosophers
the increased inlorma ion of i, under the nncen, dis
pcnsaiion of the church. and the full blaze which
ha. lrr nn hat trta Loo
the Saviour, who has brought life and Immortality
TO Light, all the rich hopes and consultations of the
gospel, the winding up Of the dana of human life
in the siurcndous catastrophe of universal confa-
grafton, the awakening lriumPh Of the archangel
pouring forth its long and loud blast over the exii-
Ing world the signal for the rising of the multludi
nous dead, the re-aniln alton and ascension Of the
untold population Of earth, the iosce ndng Judge in
majesty and awful Pomp, the process OF the judg-
mcnt, and the eternal facs Of angels and men.
While these vast and solemn themes were hur-
ryng through he mind, rus,ing near me attracted
my attention, and, turning my face towards the di.
rccton whence it proceeded, my eye met the crazy
fence Which inierPosed between me and the grave.
cspcd COW in the thick and cnlang!el bushes.
At once suspected that the graveyard was in
neglected state. Always shocked at such ncsh-
gencc, hu, not wiling 10 6rm an unfavoraihc opin.
ion of the nhabitaIts of the pleasant town Of Ano.
noma, I determined TO enter the enclosure, and
mine It's condition. Laying bold of Inc topmost
rails of several rannels Of the fence, found that
they would not lear my weight, which strengthen
cd my suspicion. Al last | succeeded in the at
tempt. My examination of the fence went far
enou- n to see the place where the had entered,
viii ch unmcndablc with the existing materials.
Probably there were other places te admt animals,
for, as Iprceeeled in different directions my atten.
ton was arrested 10 sheep and cows, u horse, and
even several hogs. In some Parts the bushes were
so lhios, AMI mingled with briery vines, that was
Obliged TO alter my course, every now and lhsn in
order to avoid them. lhe unfavoraJ.e evidences
gathered as extended my investigation, Tall and
unseemiy grass grew wherever the bushes and brers
had not taken the precedence in attempting to vie
with it in paying their doubtful henors To the dead
Here was heads,onc, and there fools.one raised
and leaning almost to their fab, or lying on the
ground, beside ls graves Of those to whom they
Were records, or carried TO distance rs il anxious
to fnd other ownefs, or broken, with par, in. and
a part on, the ground. The graves were ansoddei,
and even many of ,hem so slightly dressed as to
to say, we are glad that you lie there. and we
will give ourselves no farther trouble about you
and, in some instances, they were SO sunken as 10
endanger the limbs Of the unwary siso- passing