Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1841-12-02
From tie Nh CrtsaaS Picag1.e.
POTTER's FIELD.

7 OF the lriendles5--tl,e home OF the straf-
ger-this repository Of tie ankno-Hn dead
4 All. there il tt, be seen Il sight that would
! bring tears ia the eyes Of the most stoi-
Il cal philosopher sight which would
! sumnlsm up thoughts Of a hereafter in the
mind Of the most heartless scotfsr of viz
tue and eei.z;azs5' e<ihere are TO be seen
1 hundreds 81 aew-lnatle graves, with the
earth fresh and negiigently thrown over
Il them-iooking as if they who slept the
Esleep that neyer wakefh, underneath. had
! been but Just inarned. Then there are
to be seen the rows Of newly dug graves,
ready TO receive he first eustomer-the
1 sexton. Ike cunalng tradesman, show
ing himself an adept in the business esy
having excavations open to acceflgns' etc
all sizes.
But we were struck on perceivins Chat
these distinctions which pervads society
in this county, notwithstanding cur
boosted republicanisn, is even observed
in the Potter's Field. The difference on
distinction to which we ailude is this: the
man whom burial fees are paid by his
1 friends, no matter how vicious may nave
been his course OF life, or how dissolute
his habits, is buried is grave separate
and apart from all others With the un-
fortunate unknown who died in the has
/ pital, or is sent there by the corporation,
Iit.is different. for all such a large dixie is
! dug, capable of containing two cofins a.
breast, and into that the .felerican free
man because he has fallen the victim OF
'mlsfortpne's poisoned darts, is fiuddled
in common with the most AFFECT negro
i slave. Well, indeed, may the scooter
4 at our Institutions pronounce that truly
American =sSian. al s4.an ara berg fr-e
ana equas' a hdneag.
But our purpose IS moi to write an es-
say on these artificial distinctions which.
the greatest strlckiers for democracy Of
! ten uphold; bat 10 speak 9. fhe fottefs
Field asi IS, Ofali those buried in the
bikes. Of cayrse. nothing IS known and
!. there thew lie, covered with the clay OF
Z fareetfnmess. IS It'll those inferred By
}, their trends, and tor whon tfle bufias
j fees have been paid, It IS different ~
the head OF almost every corpse is a small,
tuaefy Soie'i uet@o t't'I N.ooo' 49,
is Inscribed, with perfect indifference
OF the rules OF orthography, some memeil-
to of a living frlend-the epltaph. IN
most cases. being the name aione OF the Re
deceased Individual. In some instances
, however, affection runs RET, and VIZ
tues are ascribed to the deceased OF
which the most rigldly righteous might
: well be proud.
We saw two things while in the Pot
: ter's Field Yesterday which made more
than a documentary impression on our
mind. One told Of the uncertain tenure
! by which we hold life-the other bespoke
4 pure and unailoyed affection.
n The first is white painted board at
I tie head Of grave, on which was inscri-
: bed, in black letters, an epitaph iE this
: wise:
I Sacred TO TIE memory Of John Damn, a
: aative of Edenderry, Kings county,
! ireland, who departed this life,
! aged -. Erected by his affection
r ate brother Patsick Dunn
! why is that grave SO h.sEl:' said we,
to the polite sexton, who went with US
! through the rave-yard.
Because, said he there afe two bro
! Tiers buried there, one over The other;
: it was done at the request. of bin who
II died last, and by order of the Mayor.
I who SO far gratified his dying wish.'--
4 The denouement Of the story briefly is
r tie letters were not well dry which told
. Of Johns death and grave, before Pat
: rick himself gave him the fraternal en-
e brace in death, and shared the same grave