Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-10-09
From the Saturday Emporium.
MUSINGS UNDER THE WILLOW.

The churchyard is quiet place. The
dead lie there in unbroken repose, and the
living seldom disturb its quietness. They
prefer to mingle in the crowd, the wild,
eager, reckless crowd; TO bury themselves
in business or pleasure, to follow the promp-
tings of ambition, shadowy though the OBJ
ject may be which they pursue, and rarely
think OF entering It's gates, or strOlling over
its solemn grounds, or of gazing for even a
read the history of life, or of lingering be-
meath lis willows while the glorious rays Of
the sunset, or the first slar-beamS fall with
sad radiance upon the leaf and branch, to
turn their thoughts upon the pas, land friends
who are of the past, to speculate on the ca
reer Of those lying there who were strang-
ers, and, drop tear or two over poor frail
humanity. They are not wise in this, for
the spirits Of the dead linger around their
graves, and they may meet there if they
will. 1t may indeed make them sadder, but
it will also make them better men, to visit
occasionally tie charchyard; and the heart
that has grown hardened by rough contact
with the world, win find there lis old SYM
patlies and better feelings returning 10 ii.
We dropped into one the other day, and a
few Of our musings we will give thee, reader.
On one side stood willow, trailing its
branches around the graves of two aged per-
sons; man and his wife; almost shutting
from them the sunlight which fell upon it,
and cleaned on It's weeping bows, and thick,
glossy leaves. On scanning the messy tab
lets which had been reared to perpetuate
their memory, and give them life in the
knowledge of succeeding generations by the
very record of their death, it appeared that
century had glided by since they were
laid there, and ''dust to dust'' had been said
over them. The mans age somewhat ex-
coed four-score, and the woman's was few
years younger. We know nothing of their
history, yet, supposlng that their lot had
been the common one, the whole broad pic
tnre of their life rose wildly before US; here
glowing with intense light, there mellowed
by slight shade into calm and quiet beau
ly; here touched by the rose-hues'' that
laugh in youths morning sky" and there
overhung by the clouds which gather "a
round later life, and shrouG it in GLOOM
We saw them merry children, without any
thing of care or sorrow on their bright faces,
laughing ioyousl y in their sports; those in
nocent sports which, the world over, throw
around childhood such a charm and fresh
ness, and thinking that the beautiful world
before them, and which showed them some
thing new every hour, and gave birth al
every turn to some young day-dream oil
bliss, could have in it little Of guile, or sad
ness, or disappointment. We saw them
grow up into youth, and, as life dawned
more fully upon them, gradually learning
the unpleasant truth that in its path were
lhorns as we'll as flowers; yet still knowing
little of its cold hearllessness-llttle of It's
deceit, and hollow promises, and real vexa-
tions. Buoyant aud sanguine, though an
occasional cloud Of sorrow swept over their
present, the future was always bright. They
still disbelieve the stories which those who
were old, and had seen the whole of life,
told them of it; and persuaded themselves
that 1t must be rich banquet, where plea
sure sat, crowned with roses, and pouring
out the ruddy, sparkling wine of enjoyment
for their guest. Thought almost became
visible on their high, full brows, and in their
dark eyes. Intelligence beamed from them
instead of childish wonders. Quick, rest
less impulses were there seen, also, and
something like reflection, while sensibility
played round, and gave life to every feature.
His form began to assume its manly pro-
portions, and hers the faultless beauty of