The Washingtonian., 1845-06-21
THE FUNERAL.

THE FUNERAL.
" "iow .dreadfully that young man sobs, and
yet he does not seem to be one Of the family.
Do you know whose funeralit is! Is the one
who weeps SO bitterly relative
"No; but he was once in love with the
young girl whom he is now following to the
grave. He is no relation. Some years ago
he courted her, but suddenly fell into habits of
htemperance when her father forbade him the
house. Since then, the poor girl has pined
away under an appalling consumption, which
has at last carried her to the tomb. The news
Of her death only, awakened him from the deli.
rum of intoxication. Since then, only three
days, he has become sober man, and volun-
tarily signed the Temperance Pledge. But, as
you see, he is mere skeleton, and cannot live
long,
Sand is it supposed that she died from love?
That is, Of a broken heart"
"There can be no doubt of the fact-for
before he became addicted to drink, few men
could compare with him for beauty of counten-
ance, or grace and symmetry Of form. But he
had higher qualities than those to recommend
him. He had kind and feeling heart-a noble
and cultivated mind--polished manhers--and
was altogether ripe scholar. Poor Charles.
A better heart never tllrobbed in human
breast"
"You interest me much id his fate. How
came such a man to fall victim to intoxica-
tion--for cannot conceive it?''
"By resorting to fashionable hotel in
Chestnut street, in company with young men
Of fashion, members Of Club. Nothing is
easier than to contract habit even when that
habit leads to death and dishonOr.'
The funeral now moved, and the two friends
walked arm in arm in the procession to the
cemetary, wrapped in gloomy reflections on the
ravages Of alcohol.
sit is a sad catastrophe, indeed. How can
man who has thus murdered girl that loved
him better than life, rest in his conscience? 1t
| is hard fate"
"To judge from his present agony, should
Inot suppose he enjoyed any rest"
"What age was shea" "Only eighteen,
and an only daughter, Alas alas!"
"What a deadly curse is this vice and its
haunts and temples! How can civilized
people tolerate them One would suppose
sense Of common danger, would combine all
good men in society, to discountenace and expel
them" I
The coffin had now reached the grave. A
prayer full Of power and pathos from the attend.
ing clergyman. struck deep emotion into the
hearts Of all. The reformed insbriate shook
like q leaf, as groans and sobs burst from his
bosom, while two friends could with difficulty
support him. The service for the dead 10 at
last ended. The coffin was lowered through
the rafting cords into the grave. A wild
scream broke from the inebriate, who dashing
off his friends with frantic violence, flung him
self into the grave, exclaiming Oh! Maria:
Maria ~
Numbers rushed to his assistance, and with
some difficulty his insensible body was drawn
from the grave--but all started back with hor-
ror, as one or his friends cried out" Gracious
God! he is dead!"
.Poor Charles I" said the benevolent cler-
gyman, "what lesson you have left for the
good hearted, who yield from desire to please
others, to the insduous temptations Of the un-
feeling Libertine, who, under the shallow pre-
text of fashion, allures to perdition, the weak,
vain, and good-natured." - Saturday Amer.
I