New-York daily tribune., 1844-11-28

~ IL iS 10 SrcC
The tear unseen by ell but Hesvenn'
GoDEY's MAGAZINE AND LADY's BooK.-The
December number closes the twenty ninth volume
of this Magazine. Its contents are interesting
as usual. We obsarve several things that are
well worth copying, but can only find space for
the following Historical Sketch by writer whose
productions are found in our Periodical Litera.
ture far less frequently than we could wish.
THE SOLEMN CELEBRATION.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
BY MISS H. F. GOULD.
IT was great-a mornentous day to our coun.
try. The storms of her revolution had gathered
in its clements Dark clouds on every side, roll
ing up from the wrongs Of an oppressed people to
the sSies, had closed at the zenith and the black
ness of our political heavens cast fearful gloona
upon the earth.
Then, on that memorable NlNErEENru OF
APRIL, the first dread thuncerbolt of battle burst
suddenly over the plain of Lexington, to leave it
irrigated by a crimson shower! The temple of
the prince of peace was shaken and shattered by
the din Of war, and became at once place of
refuge and of ambush to soldiers armed for
liberty or death.
tie* whose Office it was to minister at the sa-
cred altar, looked forth from his dwelling, and
saw the way Of his quiet walk fom his own
door to the sanctuary turned into the theatre of
most wondrous and awful tragedy-'he infant
blades of the early spring grass baptized in the
name Of freedom with The life blood of The lambs
of his care. And the grass then shooting up
Throughout the land was not mown till it had
carpsted free soil. That patriotic pastor beheld
the first grand sacrifice to American liberty s'ain
from among his own little village flock -
And there they lay on the green turf before him;
some in the mortal agony, and Others, the yet
warm but breathless clay, Just lett by the spris
which hcs had labored to train for Heaven as
they sprang up into the presence Of The Lord Of
Hos.s invoking aid Tor their struggling country,
aud appealing with her cause to the high court
above the e-rest there in hsr behalf.
The p le Iemalns of these msgoanimous SOL
der patriots we're hastily borne ir1m the field oil
their marty dom by Their sorIow,ng ricnds, and
with NJ other shroud than the CRY Garm nts 10
which they died, laid side by side in ore rude
reccotacls ; and hus cemenled together by heir
clotted Gfe streams. as ,h'ir hearts had 'ea by
the csu& in wh CT they were poured our, CON-
miued to common grave. ibere, shoulder 10
shoulder as they had stood in battle. they slept
unds ubed tn ouph the lapse of thres:scoie yeas
They ihsd no more tor hbcrty-no mGrs they
heard The cang of arms 0. the eroans OF their
dylng br.,h'en They heard the shout 0;
eed IN US it rent tn air, nor he '"und # The
sword being beaten into TIC plorshshsrr, End the
50 ear TO the pruning -hoos, IN Their beloved anc
They saw not how psou0ly aud how iondy
vigorous young American Eagle was hanging IN
the blue ether deep above their bed OF earth, with
his warm pumy breast to them. his eye drinking
at the sun, and his wings outspread to span the
globe.
A few years ago these remains were e1humed,
to be. on the sixtielh anniversary OF the battle,
entombed with military honors, IN vault-a
new tomb prepared for Them by the inhabitants
of Lexington, beneath monument which marks
the spot where they fell. They were gathered
into one rich satcophegus, inscribed with all
their names, and, taking long leave oftheir open
grave borne with solemn pomp from beside In the
cemetery to the church hard by, with Columbla's
star.spangled banner spread over them for the
frst-the last tune, and there placed IN the aisle,
before great cloud of witnesses raining tears at
the affecting sight.
N.ver before did mortal remains return from
the dark chambers of the dead into the light of
day with so truly pious and magnificent wei.
come. or TO occasion such a tide OF new and
noverful emotions as suddenly overwhelmed
every heart in that immense assembly, on BE-
holding these lugubrious evidences come back,
after sixty years rcpose, to attest TO the longing
the siphihg the burning desire of the spirits that
once animated them Tor the rights which they
never obtained.
Yet it was not mourning-it was not sorrow,
nor main from sympathy with present or recent
suffering, that melted the beholdeEs. II was a
nv sterous, irresistible power, penetrating every
breast with deep, realizing sense never leit DE-
fore, of the price peril, agony and iiie' at wch
the blessings of freedom were purchased by our
fathers for our inheritance. 1t was feeling to
which no. bosom in the throng had till that
moment known itself susceptible. The occasion
was nn;oue in the worlds annals, and the emo-
t;o,s I, caused no less so. The effect of these
honored relics on that grand body Of people was
wondrous, almost as that produced by the Bones
of the Prophet of Israel on the body OF ihe young
man that touched them as 1t lowered INTO MS
sesuchrc They terminated the material forIn'
50 that it rose up and stood upon Its teet. but
these touched the soul of the beholdef, lniusng,
as it were, new life and power OF percep.lon,
and bringing over IL d SOisHihAeJ Aii 'AS" 49,
rishts which our fathers sighed and tolled Tor,
and which we may have but TOO thoughtlessly
possessed. There seemed, throughout the crowd
almost general suspension OF breath, as 1t they
had Simultaneous imagined the air wnicn we
90 freely breathe meted out to our ancestors oy
weight and measure. The presence OF these
moadering remains enklnoled IN the hearts oil
the the spectators lively gratitude towards those
valiant val men who achieved our independence, the
mo,e uaer intensely glowing, i, now seemed almost
too ,no late 10 bestow it This side OF the invisible
world II must be directed, with scarce an
ssrtb,v % medium. 10 that all-wise Being who has
ken TO himself so many to whom 1t was Que
that OF sill that nobla army OF patriot heroes we
SEQ @ now only q ,bn ana isded rem"ant-a few
white s.hared, trembling, weary plsnms' III nngsr, 'ss
inc mere and there, feeble and SOLITARY on me
Is hsat I shore Of time, awaiting the barge that is
to convey them home. h, b,d
A small number of these, and some who mao
belonged to the same company with the fal en- = IN
the battle If Lexington. were present at the
Inn celebraI;op-each bsarng on his breast a