American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-09-30
From the Saturday Emporium ]
MUSINGS UNDER THE WILLC

The churchyard is quiet place. The dead
lie there in unbrokcn repose, and the living sell
dom disturb its quietness. They prefer to min
gle in the crowd, the wild, eager, reckless crowd;
to bury themselves in business or pleasure, to
follow the promptings of ambition, shadow
though the object may be which they pursue,
and rarely think OF entering its gates, or stroll
ing over its solemn grounds, or Of gazing for
even brief moment upon its marble records TO
read the history of life, or of lingering beneath
its willows while the glorious rays Of the sun
set, or the first star-beams fall with sad rad-
ance upon leafand branch, TO turn their thoughts
upon the past, and friends who are of the past,
to speculate on the career of those lying there
who were strangers, and drop a 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 occa-
sionally the churcllyard; and the heart that has
grown hardened by rough contact with the
world, will find there its old sympathies and
better feelings returning to it. We dropped into
one the other day, and few of our musings we
will give thee, reader.
On one side stood 4 willow, trailing its
branches ground the graves of two aged per-
IL
them the sunlight which fell upon it, and
CLEANED on its weeping bows, and thick, CLOS
sy leaves. On scanning the messy tablets
which had been reared to perpetuate their me-
mory, and give them life in the knowledge
of succeeding generations by the very record Of
their death, it appeared that a centuary had
glided by since they were laid there, and ''dust
to dust'' had been said over them. The mans
age somewhat exceeded fOur-score, and the wo-
mans was a few years younger. We know
nothing Of their history, yet, supposlng that
their lot had been the common one, the whole
broad picture of their life rose wildly before
Us; here glowing with intense light, there mel
lowed by slight shade into calm and quiet
beauty; here touched by the "rosc-hues" that
F'laurh in Youths morning sky" and there
overhung by the clouds which gather around
later life, and shroud it in gloom. We saw
them merry children, without anything of care
or sorrow on their bright faces, laughing Joy
ously in their sports; those innocent sports
which, the world over, throw around childhood
such charm and freshness, and thinking that
the beautiful world before them, and which
showed them something new every hour, and
gave birth at every turn to some young day
dream of bliss, could have in it little of guile,
or sadness, or disappointment, We saw them
grow up into YOUTH and, as life dawned more
fully upon them, gradully learning the unplea-
SAINT truth that in its path were thorns as well
as flowers; vet still knowing little of its cold
hea1tlessness-ht of its deceit, and hollow
promises. and real vexations. Buoyant and
sanguine, though an occasional cloud of sorrow
swept over their present, the future was always
bright. They still dsbeieved the stories which
those who were DID, and had seen the whole of
life, told them of it; and persuaded themselves
that it must be rich banquet, where pleasure
sat, crowned with roses, and pouring out the
1uddy, sparkling wine of enjoyment for their
guest. Thought almost became visible on their
hiph. full blows, and in their dark eyes. In
teIligence beamed from them instead of childish
wonders Quick, restless impulses were there
seen, also, and something like reflection, while
sensibity played round, and gave life to every
feature His form began to assume its manly
proportions, and hers the faultess beauty of the
maiden in her first years ofwomanhood. They
lived, loved intensely-loved as young hearts
always will that are pure and generous, and
have not been dued by disappointment, or
scathed by vice.
They married, and their bright destiny SEEM
ed rapidly fulfilling. The affections of each
had an object, and were happy in their deVo-
ton lit Bright eyed children gathered around
the Preside, and laughed and sported as they
had done, blessing and blest, like so many
household gods. These grew up to youth, and
their hearts were panied by the mistortunes OF
some and the waywardness of others; perhaps
learned, even show sharper than a serpont's
tooth it is to have thaakless child" One boy,
after years of wandering, was buried ia the
ocean, with its foam for winding sheet, and
its surging pillows to wall his drgc; and anoth-
er left them to seek newer world, and, as il