Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-10-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Covenant.
THE Odd Fellows Fssnesaa.

Thou hast watchd beside the 0ed u oeAs,'
Oh. fearless human love!
Thy lips received the last faint breath,
Ere the spirit fed above.
Thy prayer was heard By the parting bier,
In low and farewell tone;
Tho'st given the grave both flower and tear,
oh love! thy task is done -HEMANs.
twas calm holy evening in mid
summer. The light of the world was
gradually sinking adown the western
sky, finging its farewell rays, in gol-
den beauty, on steeple, tower, and bat
Element of the City Of Monuments. |
had wandered out beyond the precincts
of the noisy mart; and, reclining my
self on beautiful mossy bank, was
engaged in deep communion with my
own thoughts. | love, at the Silly hour
of sunset, to steal away from the bust
ling scenes of life and business, that I
may, in some lone spot indulge in a
mournful, yet delightful reyerie; call
back again some half-forgotten remcm-
brance of tie past; or let the aspira-'
tons of my heart go up on the invisible
wings of the wind, in gratitude to the
Author Of all my mercies: some such
employment occupied my mind on the
evening alludedto. Inthe midst Of my
meditatlons, however, | was aroused
by the deep yet stiaed roll Of the muf-
fed drum, and the mournful mlnstrelsy
of wind instruments, united in a soft
and solemn funeral dirge; ringing out,
slowly and with measured cadence, on
the calm air of that serene summer eve
ming; and in looking in the direction
from whence the strains proceededs !
saw funeral train, gravely vending
their way up the valley, and ascending
the hill.
No long array of carriages headed
that funeral procession; no evidences
of wealth, or pomp, or family pride,
were manifest; a hearse, which contai-
ned the remains of the one about to be
committed to the cold resting place of
the dead, and single carriage, for the
fninister and family Of the deceased,
led.on the sorrowing throng that fol-
lowed on foot, in the rear. Bat though
there were bat few evidences of ponp
or display, yet that slowly moving com
pany were not without manifest indi-
cations Of deep sorrow; for the sad a.
verted look, the grave and smileless
face, of each that foIloweri-on, signally
evinced the .fervent grief that sat en-
throned III every breast.
They come, a sad RECALLED throng,
Moving with tafsiy step a'ongi
svitls mourning badse,ana Grape bound sash,
ReAectiig inthe sunsets fash.
SIN on s,Ey come With solemn pace,
Aud grief SITS throned on every face;
For now, they bear with measured tread
brother to the silent dead!
One who, in vonsler mystic hall,
Had promptly leaP'l to dutys calls
{ Who's spirit from their Order r.vcn,
Had join IL the Eternal Oae in heaven,
they now, with feelings warm sill true,
Have cone to i 81 4 last aleu!
AS the mourning train moved on, | a.
rose instinctivelY, and followed IN tht
rear; for all my syIpathies had awak-
ened. The gate Of the burial place wa
soon gained; and the friends ofthe de
ceased, led by the minister Of God
moved forward with reluctant step, ant
oathered around the grave prepared 70
The reception Of the remains Of thei
iast rslatiye and friend. The sound
The drum was hushed, the funeral ser
lid was commenced; and, ere its con
clgs;on. caeeN was moiseene
,sssb sla.ae.ss al sympathy and regre