Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-03-10
DEATH OF "LITTLE NELL"
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

Along the crowded path they bore her
i'ow, pure as the newly fallen snow that
covered it; whose day on earth had been
as fleeing. Under that porch, where she
had sat when Heaven in its mercy brought
her to that peaceful spot, she passed again,
and the church received her in it's quiet
shades. They carried her to one old nook,
where she had many time sat musing, and
laid their burden softly on the pavement
The light streamed on it through the color
ed WlndoW-a window where the boughs of
trees where ever rustling in the summer,
and where the birds sang sweetly all the
day long. With every breath of air that
stirred among those branches in the SUM-
shine, some trampling, changing light
would fall upon her grave. Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes, dust to dust Many young
hand dropped in its little wreath, many a
stiied sob was heard. Some-and they
were not few-kne1t down. All sincere
and truthful in their sorrow. The service
done, the mourners stood apart, and the viii
layers closed around to look into the grave
before the pavement stone should be replace
ed. One called to mind how he had seen
her sitting on that very spot, and how her
book had fallen on her lap, and she was
gazing with pensive eye upon the sky
Another told, how he had wondered much
that one SO delicate as she, should be so
bold how she had never feared to enter
the church, alone at night, but had loved to
linger there when all was quiet, and even
to climb the tower stairs, with no more light
than that of the moons rays stealing thro'
the loophole in the thick old wall. A whis-
per went about among the oldest there, that
she had seen and talked with angels; and
when they called TO mind how she had
looked, and spoken, and hef early death,
some thought it might be so indeed. Nus,
coming to the grave of little knots, ana
giancing down and giving place to others,
and falling off in whispering groups of three
or four, the church was 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 even
ming had come on, and not sound disturb
ed the sacred stiffness of the place-when
the bright moon poured in her light upon
the tomb and monument, on pi lar, wall and
arch, and most of all, it seemed to them, up
on her quiet gfave-in that calm time. when
all outward things and inward thought
TEEN with the assurance OF immortality,
and. worldly hopes and fears are humbled
in the dust before them-then, with tran
gull and submissive hearts they turned a.
way, and left the child with God. Oh it is
hard to take to the heart the lessons that
such deaths will teach but let no man re-
ject it, for it is one that all must learn, and
is mighty, universal truth. When death
strikes down the innocent, and young, for
ever fragile form which he lets the painting
spirit free, hundred virtues rise, in shape
of mercy, charity, and love, to walk the
world and bless it. Of every tear that sor-
rowing mortals shed on such green graves
some good is borne, some gentler nature
comes. In the destroyer's steps there
springs up bright creations that defy his
power, and his dark path becomes way of
light to heaven.