Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-02
For the Phoenix.

"The voices heard often in happier days,
Tho soothingly sweet, have tone from the tomb .
How do we love to revert to other and happier
days. To see in imagination the forms we then
loved TO listen in fancy to the voices that greeted
us in childhood the merry laugh and tones of af.
fiction that even we can call to mind, have,
alas, long since died away upon our ears mo-
nent we enjoyed them, and they were gone We
were scarce conscious Of their presence when they
had Forever taken their flight. The power of asso.
ciation--how strong, how valuable, How often
will even m 4 ~
The sound of word, or the sight Of flower.
Revive whole Lifetime in that single hour.
II was a golden day, early in September, 1870
The sun had just hid his dazzling head behind The
green hills of Vermont, and feecy clouds, streaked
ever and anon with purple and gold, hoated grace.
fully about the horizon | found myself strolna
at this lovely hour, in churchyard in b. This
church yard is beautifully situated at the top of a
high hill, from which can be enjoyed the mos, de.
lightful prospect. At the foot of the hill, on the
east, rolls the majestic Connecticut with lis enc
raid banks lined with shrubbery and decked with
wild flowers In pleasant valley on the north,
stands the village of b., crowded with the young,
gay and beautiful, middle aged, and those whose
hairs are whitened with the frosts of many winters,
those revealing in luxury, those who labor for the
comforts of life and those who dwell in poverty's
most miserable abode, all, all are there. These
scenes presented themselves to the eye, and bro't
with them thoughts of the time when the numer-
Gus beings now laid to moulder in the cold, dark
tomb, were as active and busy in life $ varied sta
ges as those who now fill their places
While in this state of mind, my steps were bent,
as It were unbdden, 10 pure white stone, on
which was Inscribed a name that had often seen
before. How many past scenes did this call into
lie II was the grave of little playmate, and one
for whom ] felt that true childish affection. so
warm, so ardent, that cannot be the influence of
selfish principles. Her health was delicate from
infancy. She died of quick consumption and very
suddenly One day stood by her side in the class,
and she ives then apparently well as usual The
next day death came and plucked the budding rose
from the parent stem. A few steps farther, and
another met my eye. He was the younges, child
Of wealthy parents, He was the favorite son and
beloved brother. One bright May morn he gaily
lett ms home with some young companions, TO play
along the banks ofthe river, Finding skff there,
they all got into it, mooring it about at pleasure
The boat they thought safely fastened on shore.
but unfortunately its hold gave way, and il rapidly
made IFS way into the stream. All sprang out and
were saved but James, who was ia the further part
of the boat, and when il came his turn TO leave il
had proceeded so far from the shore that he sunk.
fie rose again and again, struggled long and hard
for life, but fruitless. His companions could not
save him from watery grave, thoagh some endan-
gered their lives in attempting it. The alarm was
given, but ere any could reach the spot he had
hoated down the stream liieless The grassy
mosind of another and another was passed who had,
in former years, met me in the same school room,
and conned over the same light tasks in childhood,
but now approached one more recently made 1t
was that Of one to whom my heart was bound by
the strongest ties of youthful friendship She was
favored with all that is lovely in person and dispo-
sition. do not say she was perfect but she was
too pure for earth Death came very sudden and
unexpected, but she was Christian, and she met
it with smile. Alas, for the scenes of other days
thatcan never be erased from the pages of memory.
r"And now heard the gladstone voice, ar
- As oft in days of yore, n l,- rit InF 8 1a
And saw, with fancys eye, the forms h Fesi|
. That we behold no more M ~ fG.ir.,|
But when remembered that they were gone
forever gone was forced to excai, too truly said
the poet, LAO ilBHaIHoiha SO aliF8p1na f9E
"The voices heard often in happier days, aaaietsi|
Tho soothingly sweet have tone from the tomb.r
-iEps 3di ,gaisaia 3ai aso ID aa8 IN. N. Hia
Ashford, Cattaraugus Co., NJ Y. hsif9isi aaliin|
-. ~ --L-- q. : - "a ~ .l-LL-a-.aJ u