Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1847-08-13
alisfGllal1cons
THE TiME TO Dll

THE TiME TO DIE
A cold medal was Swarded to the las' asls li'sEs
II ,he f,liovyiner beaui full Essay, az
,,[,,,S;,in, bT the Trustees of dc p any
mate Academy. at tisflr last annuas e
III Mss MARTHA HlswAth, oEsa
!, 49,. ,,.i,,er FAs(ore cheerful
.,I No., i, lovely naditation. fel
=, b,a,.,, s,IJs 10 thtg.loor, casting of com
r'r, r,.- ,hc room. lad excluding the piercing
Ia NJ, :. trenor aasset over the frame Of tbs
~ won - tho stoal without tell apbnhis
:. an ,hankfnj haas n shelter on such 3 mig
- ,,; " ,;4 no ,IriwinC his easy chair 10 the
49,; :. w, -, tI,s v4e,ch that roams abroad te
- .,a-, :, ,br1 rlusiEC for some time, he
100, narSrc, the rockl, and ever and anon paused
- 49, tbnHGhr wl1ch ut length found expires
,;,, :. Do.Ih il a 3aartul thing to contemplate
=, INV finn. hut in season as this mefbitIks
,,,,,i strn,~oIe borf for life. lobe Placeddeeis
J.; ,[, III fr.7~a., 18th no she herself SEEM
=, s+r, =, rrpvcnt he act ard winds her rohaei
s,, ever bar stroncEhreast 10 prevent admttanc's
,,;,h;, h,- hnsoyp when die, may II he in the
~. NJ ;,,,cr. sirinrr time, when all is fresh (.
,,,I g,,y R1t bqrk SspFey | did not hear \ knock
Nv, rh3 ,,u!I verttIfc out on sucha rlg5t 81 AMI
- d., Nor heksny before him girl, who
,,,.si for shelter ifaccents to excite pity IN The
I.rr,,z, beart. Tha appeal was enough for the
;S loar,ad os] u8n and drawing her within
Tho rco,, h, rave Der seat near the FIRE, and
rial ~ rcyive her Gre, sing frame. Aler She
80 -, ,, t,retlas 10 nSy, 81 ftis inlIltttssis,
- IA ki,r she WIZ n lonely creature, with na
friend il, the world :!she had roamed about from
MACE TO mace, living ON charity; she bad never
known father. or mtSher or relative.
The old man, stfG dwelling upon the so9leS'
which had for sonc time occupied himS asked her
if death Won Id not bsn welcome messenger 10 her
ms she had nothing sar which to live, and no OH
cared for her-woul. she not be willing 10 die aud
be at rest
oh! ask me notao give up my-life, it is sone-
times bright and iovEus. In the lovely summer,
the flowers are my f3icnds, the birds speak to gie
from the trees, and tie bee winds his tiny horn 10.
me, and then wau.er forth TO the green Wo9d5i
and life is all sweetness oh no youth mas
no time TO die"
Years rolled on, tie spring appeared gracnalsF
bright. the birds re6ced on every bongA, all ma
tntc smiled to weIfame the bEthe Goddess ot
Spring. But the old man had new ties to bind
him to the earth the Flouseless wanderer was now
as daughter to hiui; his interest IN her was too
strong bond TO be easily broken ltwss as hard tn
leave The world as ir the cold and dreary winter
are seemed but to strengthen the love of life, al
though youth was witaercd and nature dying, yet
life! life only'' wa5 his desire.
Snrino passed. a,ai summer, with its mild and
balmy air. visited the earth; the maiden smiled
in qladnpss nf IearI and the old man reioiced III
her happiness. for she threw joy and bliss around
hrr banpv Iauoh rut,g uron his ear in wild and
merry meals as she.l atclled the flight of the but
terlv and her swec gsong rose upon the air as she
tended her birds and watched the opening of each
bud 10 the light. lime flew swiftly by, yet the
old man and the maiden were as londly attached
TO the earth as in spESng time Death cameo ne"
horrors as the seassn advanced; their summer
paths were strewed with flowers. :" II was nc
time TO die.
Autumn. with i,s purple grape, and downy
neacL. and pleasantalnttng time, took the place
Of summer. and hroE4,ht with lightness and JOY
business of cool air and freedom from the oppres-
sive heat the littetmaiden trIpPed through. the
dry leaves and chased the squirrel with almost
lis own switncss; tilen throwing back her sunny
curls she bounded Il the side of the old manihs he
sat under the vinesEnt his door, making glad his
eyes with her brighsand happy face, and his heart
grew young again; il her lightsome, Joyous mlrbl
both little thought os;leath. The earthlad c!0the9i
her in robe oil brov and dry leaves. and esS
self from the eye of tnan-she seemed not to wish
for human companv1in this her time osehange.
Winter again lelhrned again we see the old
man sitting in his easy chair before the bright and
glowing fire but lib is not the solitary being he
was before for beside him is one in the first blush
of youth and grace she is no longer the gay and
noisy child; she is 80 less lovely, no lesa happy;
but a deeper thought steals over her face, and Il
heavenly radiance dts upon her features, as she
bends over the book from which, in accents of
deep reverence, eheEcads the Word OF God 10 the .
old man.
What think tlcvEof death ? The faces Of both
look more restrainoEg the Holy Spirit sheds It's
light upon the way (which lcadeth to the grave;
it no longer seems If rk and lonely. The old man
received the heavenly guest into heart which
had always been III residence of Kindness and
charity The maidln now dropped daily, but she
no longer thought { hard to give up life; and
when the cold blast kwept over the earth, and the
robe of snow cnveloiad il, with robes no less white
she was received iifo its BOSOM Then asked
tie old man, " Wheh is the time TO die -
holy caluSwas On his brow,
And pracrg9. was lis breath;
Aud sWe.ilv ger his GeaII.e stole
smile. - ltsi divine;
lie s,s,hr tie tnliagc mg his snn--
e. x NaslrEs is mine ~ -