The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-12
" Outh's lid e par { aHa e nm &
THE BURIAL OF LITTLE NELL.
ny Boz.


The following touching description ofthe inter
ment of a young and beautiful child is from "Mas-
ter Humphreys Clock"
"Along the crowded path they bore her now;
pure as the newly fallen snow that covered it
the porch, whore she had sat when Heaven in
its mercy brought her to that peaceful spot, she
passed again, and the old church recei we'd her in
its quiet shade. They carried her to her old nook
where she had many and many time sal musing,
and laid their burden softly on the pavement The
light streamed on it through the colored window
a window where the boughs ftrees were ever rust
ling in the summer breeze, and where the birds
sing sweetIy all day long, With every breath of
air that stirred among the branches in the sunshine,
some.trembling, changing light would fall upon
the grave. Earth 20 earth, ashes to ashes, dust TO
dust Many young hand dropped its little wreath,
many stiled sob heard. Some-and there
were not a few-knet down. All were sincere
and truthful in their sorrow. The service done
the stood apart, and the villagers closed
round to look into the grave before :he pavement
stone should be placed. One called 10 mind
how ne had her sit on that very spot, and
how her book had fallen on her lap, as she was
gazing with pensive face upon the sky. Anoth-
she, should be so bold; how she had never fear
ed to enter the chuch alone at night. but had low
ed to linger there when all quiet and even TO
climb the tower stair, with more light than that
of the moons rays stealing through the loop-hoes
in the thick old wall whisper went among the
oldes, there, that she had called to mind how she
had looked and spoken Of her early death; some
thought II mIgnI DC 81 inueeu. Thus, coming to
the grave in little knots, and glancmg down anu
giving place to others and falling off in whispering
groups of three or four, the church cleared IN
time of all but the sexton and the mourning friends
They saw the vault covered and the stone fixed
down. Then when the dusk OF evening had
come on, and not sound disturbed the sacred
stiffness Of the pace--when the bright moon
poured in her light on the tomb and monument,
pillar, wall, and arch and most of all, lit seemed
TO them, upon her quiet grave-in that calm time,
when all outward things and inward thoughts TEEN
with assurances of immortality, and worldly hopes
and fears humble in the dust before them
then, with tranquil and submissive hearts, they
turned away, and left the child with God. oh it
Is hard TO take to heart the lesson that such deaths
will teach;.but let no man reject it, for it is one
that all must learn, and it is mighty, universal
truth. When death strikes down the innocent and
young, for every fragile form from which he let's
the parting spirit free, hundred virtues rise in
shapes Of mercy, charity and love, to walk the
world and bless it, OF every tear that sorrowng
mortals shed on such green graves, some good is
dorm, greater nature comes. In the DESTROYER
steps, there springs up bright creations that defy
his power and his dark path becomes a bright way
to heaven"