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

Z =
riied sandstone rock, which ros
straight as a wall for sixty yards abov
il, and then sloped still farther upward
till it was merged in the. heather O
the lollier fell--behind the chapel wa
a thick grove of matted yews, filing ul
the whole width Of the gorge belweel
the bills. through which litlIe brook
lei rushed nurmuring and sparkling il
a thread Of liquid silver, girdling ID,
church-yard round on the lelt-side, anc
in the front, where il was crossed by
small one-arched bridge Of freestone
The margin OF this stream was border,
ed by long line ofash trees, probably
chance-sown there by emirgalory birds
fer not another Of the species was to
be found for several miles distance
from the spot, and above these, the
bill sloped boldly to the westward,
showing beyond its rolling summit the
crests Of lOltier mountains looming I'D
blue and indistinct in the far distance.
Il was a dark and gloomy afternoon,
although in the fairest part Of summer,
but the air was 50 charged with cleo
tricity, and damp wiIhal, and very sui
Try and oppressive. There was not a
breeze to ian the lighlest 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, I'll the
whole sky was crowded with their
huge towering volumes-the sun, when
he shone out at times, from the inter-
slices Of the dense thundercloud, shot
hot brossy glare, that seemed as il III
came from the mouth Of some vast fur
nace--no bird was heard to MARBLE or
even chirrUp from the bushes, The thros.
lie and the bllckbird, those never 81
lent songslers OF Scottish summer,
were hushed in sad anticipation Of the
coming slorm-Only the plaintiye cry
oil The lapwing from the upland, and |
the shriIl scream Of kite wheeling in |
airy circles above the solitary beliry. |
the dealh-like stiffness Of The |
valley. Death-like indeed it was
and not undltingIy, Cor, in the church
yard, bard by the bank of the litle |
stream, and under the dark shadows |
d the yews. ihare was On open
grave the pile of earth ready to fn |
Is yawning mouth upheaped upon the
sod beside, matlock and spade plant.
ID in the grass by its brink-an open
grave waiting its silent tenant. AL
iome short distance from the grave,
here sat upon a fallen head-slone, as
notionless as though he had been him
elf a part Of il, an old gfay-headed
Vrlnkled man, in attitude Of melan-
holy thought, with a small, long
lacked terrier, short-legged, and wire
laircd, with face as gray and wrink-
ed as his n aster's doing among the
weeds beside him. For nearly an
iour, he sat there without stirring, I'M
ess when at tines he raised his head
Or a moment, and appeared 10 listen,
ut then not hearing what be seemed
D be expecting, reIapsed into his grim
nd gloomy medltalions. AT last The I
ouHds which he awaited made them
Ewes heard at a distance, the well
nova dealhbymn oflhe puritans swell
ng up awiuily among The bleak bare
ills, a volume Of wild, doleful music.
The old man rose up al the signal, and
'iterng 10 the porch, opened the iron
added door, and ina few moments the
ssonant clash and ciang ofthe old crack.
1 chapel bell rung harsnly out over he
nelly valley. L was not long befJre tie
IelanehOly train came SLOWLY into sight. 4
inding along the narrow road, which.
flowing The mazes oflhe brook, gave &C
IS 10 that lonely place Of worship from 5
e more cultivated glens Of the 10 +,
'untry. TIE first OF The p. ocesslon va.
e old Covenant gpastor, a tall thin mau. v
mt almost double with the infrmii es OF +
&c, with a BALI sh ad, and 81 m h1rsh -
alures, buta quiet flushing eye, full ofen :
usiaslic .ife and jealous energy. In !,
adiulely behind him came the coffin, o !
de plain boards, unlocked bv any pla.e Il
ornament, with neither pal nor pIumes. II
'borne upon tie sta warl shoulders o a
gh stout peasants, dressed in their \
Dnied garb Of shepherds plaid, an y
cad blue lowlaud bonnels- Glowing z
g bodv-hapless and be p'ess mourners ii
an cd woman, so age that her fral al
nbs had scarcely enough Of LIE lef 10 i
pport them, and far, blue eyed, fax. d.
.hared girl, crePt along--ihe latter 10
thed IN lie fast flowing tears which flow N
readily, aud seem 10 sweep away in Of
nc flow tie sorrows Of the young-the III
-meT, Stern, cold an fearless, as if The
lei which penetrated 10 heT hearts 10 :,
PSI core. had mustere there, IN iehsck. L
Ter very brea'h, AMI froze up th8 ioDn \
ns tat gash 50 leidily at any trensieul N
ieyance 20 the youg 2 days Of sentiment "
d sympa,hy--'he mO.h.r and tie nece m
the deceased-fafit was he the uiiow's .
n, who was borne thus 10 his long !