The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-01-05

tue right nand Siue, the little burial
ground abutted on steep precIpice OF
rilted sandstone rock, which rose
straight as wall for sixty yards above
il, aud then sloped still farther upward,
till 1t was merged in the heather OF
the loffier fell--behind the chapel was
thick grove of matted yews, filing up
the Whole width of the gorge between
the hills, through which little brook
let rushed nurmuring and sparkling in
a thread Of liquid silver, gifdling the
church-yard round on the Ieft-side, and
in the front, where it was crossed BY a
small one-arched bridge Of freestone.
The margin of this stream was border
ed by long line ofash trees, probably
chance-sown there by emirgatory birds,
fer not another of the species was to
be found for several miles distance
from the spot, and above these, the
hill sloped boldly to the westward,
showing beyond its rolling summit the
crests Of loftier mountains looming up
blue and ihdisiinct in the far distance.
1t was dark and gloomy afternoon,
although in the fairest part Of summer.
but the air was su: charged with cleo
tricity, and damp withal, and very sui
try and oppressive. There was not
breeze to Ian the lightest leaves Of the
ash by the stream, not to wave even
the slight stalk of the blue bare bells
Of the rock, but the clouds mustered
heavily, sweeping. as it seemed, be-
fore some higher current that was not
felt below, mass above mass, It'll the
whole sky was crowded with their
huge towering volumes--t the sun, when
he shone out at times, from the inter
stices of the dense thundercloud, shot
a hot brassy glare, that seemed as il it
came from the mouth of some vast fur
nace-no bird was heard to warbIe or
even chirrup from the bushes,t the thros-
lie and the blackbird, those never ST.
lent songsters Of Scottish summer,
were hushed in sad anticipation Of the
coming storm-only the plaintive cry
Of the lapwing from the upland, and
the shriIl scream Of kite wheeling in
airy circles above the solitary beliry,
disturbed the death-like stiffness of the
valley. Death-like indeed it was
and not un6ttingly, for, in the church
yard, hard by the bank of the little
stream, and under the dark shadows
or the yews. there was an open
grave-th pile of earth ready TO Gil
lis yawning mouth upheaped upon The
sod beside, mattock and spade plant
ed in the grass by its brink-an open
grave waiting its silent tenant. Al
some short distance from the grave,
there sat upon fallen Maidstone, as
motionless as though he had been him
self a part Of it, an old gfay-headed
wrinkled man, in attitude of melan-
choly thought, with small, long,
backed terrier, short-legged, and wire
haired. with face as gray and wrink-
! led as his masters doing among the
weeds beside him. For nearly an
hour, he sal there without stirring, I'M
less when at times he raised his head
for moment, and appeared 10 listen,
but then not hearing what he seemed
TO be expecting, reTapsed into his grim
and gloomy medtations. Al last the
sounds which he awaited made them
selves heard at a distance. the well
known deathhymn of the puritans swell
Hing up aWluily among The bleak bare
hills, volume of wild, dolefui music.
The old man rose up at the signal. and
totterng TO the porch, opened the iron
studded door, and in few moments the
dissonant clash and ciang ofthe old crack
ed chapel bell rung harsnly out over The
lonely valley. 1t was not long before tle
/ melancholy train came slowly into sight,
Ewinding along the narrow road, which,
following the mazes ofthe brook, gave &C
cess to that lonely place worship from
the more cultivated glens of the lover
country. TIE first of he p. occasion va,
the old Covenant pastor. tall thin man
! bent almost double with the infrmit.es OF
age. with a bald Ohead, and ST IN harst
features, but quiet flashing eye, full of en-
II l0uSI1SLtG III ut1Q ZOAA00S AIT
/ msdiateIy behind him came the coffin, o
lrude plain boards, unlocked by any pla;t
| or ornament, with neither pal nor plumes
4 upborae upon tue staswart shoulders 0
| siein stout peasants, dressed in thei
woslted garb OF shepherds plaid. an.
/ bread blue lowland bonnets-. FLOWING
! the bod7--hapless and be p'ess mourner
Ian old woman. SO ageI that her FRA
limbs had scarcely enough of life left 4
support them, and fair, blue-eyed, fax
| en.hailed girl, crept along-'he latte
!, | bathed in tie fast flowing tears which fiov
so readily, and seem 10 sweep away il
Their flow the sorrows of the young--th
former, stern, cold and fearless, as if h
grief which penetrated ,oshe- hearts in
most core. had mus tered there. IN heck
T I'd her very breath, and froze up the tonn
], tains taat g1sIl SO / eadily at any sraIl'iet
grievance ii the Young days OF senaimft
and sympa hy--sle nc. her and the Nee
, Of the deceased for il was he the Nidow
- .f.1~ $50 - brernn 4htise to- his lon