Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-04-29
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village, Mr. GEORGE r. VAIL, aged q years.
In the death of the young God teaches us, perhaps
more than in any of his dspensatlons, the utter UNI
certainty of our fairest earthly expectations; and, in
SO teaching, mpresses upon lrs the great religious
duty of living for immortality. And yet we find it
difficult 10 associate the idea of youth and the grave
together for we naturally connect the early life time
with all that is fresh, active, and joyous. That the
aged should die neither surprises disappoints us
they seem to have completed their term Of service and
enjoyment. But that death should be permitted to
put its grasp upon the young, in the midst of their
bloom and promise, is one of the difficult circun-
stances in the divine providence. Blu, how often, of
ae have the inhabitants of this village been reminded
of this condition of our being. Death has been busy
among us; and the vctims-how frequently have
they been those who thought must have been
spared. Gas for man. his days are as grass; as q
flower of the field so he 1ourisheh: for the wind
passeth over it, and it is gone" How many of our
young men and young women have passed away
one after another, like flowers bghted by the cold
breath of the Destroyer, if the order Of nature was
reversed and the spring time Of life was Deaths own
time and proper season. 1t was the beautiful utter
ence of heather belief, 6" Whom the gods love, die
Young" But in Christian Interpretation and hope,
how far deeper and hoier the meaning!
The death here recorded is an affecting bcreave-
ment, not only TO relatives, but others: for rarely
could the grave close over t!le remains Of a young
man of purer heart, more bamclc>s life. We arc
apt, indeed, 10 "idoze the dead" and to speak in
the language of euoey, rather than truth. But we
NAV safely say of our departed friend tina, he was
one whom all could esteem; for the young found in
him no initiating preension end the elder were sure
OF his respectful Difference. His moral character
not only free from the inequalities with which the
young are sometimes chargeahle but ii had positive
excellence. What be was the right side
Gentle in disposition, usassumn ing in manner, he was,
too upright in principle and uniformly in
duet; and bes les being dilgent in business he was
a duiifu son. alectonate lrotier and kind
friend He had lately made public profession of
religious faith but his feelings .nd practice had long
been under happy Influences for, n constant wor-
shipper in the house of God, and teacher in the
Sabbath school, he had not only heard Of Heaven"
out, we are persua led, had Learned the way" For
ourselves we could have wished that he nigh, have
been spared but we remember whose will it is that
he should be taken Hsshort life has gvenrs happy
,rcmembranccs; and of his early, and even sudden
death, we can only say
"a Christian cannot die before his time,
The Lords appointment, is the servants hour"
On Sunday morning, Oath inst, at the residence Of
James |: Cutler, ESQ.,, in this village PATRICK
Bellows Falls, member the Senior Class of the
University of Vermont in the 10Th year Of his age
Thus has God seen fit to take from among us one
full the brightest promise, whose loss is widely felt
and more deeply than words can express. BY this
sad event. fond father his only surviving parent is
deprived Of beloved son, the sole preseIver Of his
name; only sister is made to weep for brother
whose place in her heart nought can fill; large
circle OF relatives and friends are brought mourn
over one who was alike their pride and JOY. Hi:
class mates, with whom for nearly four years he haC
been united almost by the ties of brotherhood, fec
his los, as Of one in whom their hearts bound
up and the memory OF whose virtues can never CEASE
to fill them with the deepest grief for his early death.
His strong intellect was united 10 n mild and unob
,trusve disposition, and heart whose every impulse
was generous and mol e. Guided in all his action:
,by the laws of honor and conscience his cIaractc
to those around him. Those who looked upon hi
noble form and manly bearing, saw there but a fajn
ehadowing forth of the noblencss, the perfect man
illness OF his soul. In his intercourse with his fellows
always frank, generous, and kind; in his demeano
towards his instructors, courteous and respectful
He so mperceptilly gained upon the affections Of all
that we may say of him with TRUTH
"None knew him, but TO love him;
None named him, but to praise"
Thus elevated in character and position-in the ful
Hush and beauty Of early manhood-amost at tin
close of his collegiate course-us entering upon tn,
active duties oflite, with hopes and prospects such
fall TO the lot OF fcw-he has been under the ruling
Of an all wise and all-mereiiul Providence, sullen
cit down by disease which baticd the power G
medicine. lie mas gone Wne Inc loves and bones n
youth were yet warm and thick around him an,
before the cares and conflicts of earth had time f.
canker and corrode his heart Who then sha,
nurmur or repne! Let us rather bow in snbmis
eion and say II Is the LORD, let him do VIVA
seemcth him good"
The following Hymn, composed for III,
occasion, was sung by the class at his fu
neral:
Loved companion wont to greet us,
Open, generous, true, sincere,
Why in silence dost thou meet us7
why are deaths sad yestments here
Like, were all the hopes that filedus:
Sells same is the path we've trod
Kindred thoughts and'aims inspired us
Love 10 man-and love 10 God
But in vain mourn around thee;
Powerless is plant save;
For the cords Of death have bound thee
We must lay thee in The grave.
But there's yet tie that binds u.s.
Nicer 10 sever ne'or 10 change;
Though thy leless form reminds u,
Earth hath pershed-love remains,
In this lore thou still art near us,
Blest companion, brother friend
This the thought that sill shall cheer us
Till our life like thine shall end.
At a meeting Of the Phi Sigma M .Socie,
called for the purpose of Expressing their ser
tments of esteem for the character and the
deep sorrow for the loss of PATRICK HENRI
member and late President of that socet
the following resolutions were introduced an
adopted.
Resolred, That by the death of PARRrcK Herr
member and lately the President of this Sociel,
we as a society and individuals have sustained n los
Too well do we know that his place nmongs, ,
shall be forever vacant-that we shall never hef
his voice or look upon his face again. For his was
character that could he loved, marked as it was b
frankness, generosity and truth. They were lis di
iinctve traits. To strong intellect he aided wa,
heart. Unobtrpsive, and unwilling TO pain the fec
ings of another, he never hestated to express h
feelings freely. Incapable of deceit, he condemned
wherever he saw it. Gentle in his dealings, he WI
still firm. With such character, he was above
mean action. He ever acted honoraby for he actt
naturally We can say nothing of him more true iha
that he never had an enemy. And now that he
gone we cannot but weep that death has taken fro
us a companion universally beloved, and from Il
world mind so full of promise