Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-09-15
(From Graham's Magazine.]
THE SACRIFICE.
DY JOSEPH n. CHANDLER.

"
But IN my breast and in my bEan
Awake the pangs that pass not by,
The though! that ne'er shall sleep again.
Nj soul nor degns nor dare complain
Though grief and passion there rebel,
only know we live in vain
only feel-Farewell !-Farewell!- ByaoS.
In the Spring love to walk along the al
icys Of Laurel Hill, TO mark the first expand
ing of the tree buds and to see the flowers
spring tmidly up in the uncertain sun, and
trembling at the breeze that sweeps across
the Schuylkill. Summer, too, has its de-
lights in this place; flowers mature, and
fruits and vegetation strengthen-thc trees
stand out proud in their thickencd foliage,
and the scythe of the mower cuts down the
accumulation ofgrass that pours its rich odors
upon the senses in delightful luxuriancc, like
the blessed memory of those whom death
hath laid beneath the ieeming soil.
The autumn has double charm the scar
ed leaf sweeps wildly round in the eddy ing
between the tombs; and the grass has So
bered down its hue. Standing amid these
things, one thinks Of the dccaying forms OF
men, ready to be shaken into the reccpta-
cles below and this life loses portion of the
undue attraction tina, keeps US from profit
able contemplation of that which is to come.
Nor is winter destitute of delights in such
place. Thick masses ofsnow lie here and
there in grave shapes, as il the spirit of the
storm had famed and wnnowcd the puresl
production of the clouds to make a monu-
ment for some air-spirit that had ceased to
do the errand of love.
Here and there the rose bush extends its
'thorny branches without leaf, and the shr-
yelled stems of flowers stretch up from be-
meath their snowy covering, monuments OF
kindly affections, and evidences that all is
,not.aost. An open grave at such time has
not'aH the repulsive looks that it possesses
in mother seasons ; the fresh earth comes up
with comparative warmth, and the deep pil
seems hiding place to which we may re.
treat from the chilIs of the world until the
storms Of life shall have passed away, 'and
one unbounded spring encircles ALL
Leaning some weeks since over the post
that forms the landmark of some lot-holder
in that populous abode Of the dead, and look
ing down into grave re-opened 10 receive
new tenant, discovered through the thin
layer of gravel below, the coffin plate of the
first occupant of the place and, on inquiry
learned thai the husbands grave had beer
opened 10 receive the body of The wife.
The chilly air of February day, and The
GOODNESS increased by layer of snow npor
the ground, induced me to retreat into the
house, where found person awaiting the
funeral. II is natural 30 discourse Of the
dead when we lay them in the earth, and as
neither nv associate nor had direct inter,
est in the fate of the deceased, the freedom
of gossip was not destroyed by any delicacy
of feeling on the part Of my companion
who seemed to have an intimate acquain'
tance with all The circumstances Of the de-
ceased.
Few young woman of our city wer'
deemed more at,racti,a than Amelia wa
berson. Her beauty, her cultivated mind
and the respectable position oil her iam'iy
gave her consequence in the eyesoi the yonn!
men; more than one Of whom m'de an ollie
ofname and hand. including, of course, for TN
present, at least, heart also. And ]. wa
evident that one Of the many found his hope
strengthened by the good wishes Of ii,e pa
rents, and not represented by any particular
GOODNESS of the object Of devotion.
Mr.. Tudor. of respectable connexions il
the east, and fair standing in this city, de-
handed of the mother Of Amelia permission
to address the daughter; and having receiv
ed the sanction which he claimed, it wa
expected by the parents that Amelia woul'
CON u,unicate TO them the proposition whc
she should receive. She was silent, an
when subsequently addressed, eva'ed ID