Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-01-14
Tho lFaunflly Circle
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FROM MEALS SATURDAY GAZETTE.
A SCENE IN A GRAVEYARD.
nY RonrRT uoRRIs.

by ROBERT NORRIS.
On passing Though one Of the cemetsses
connected with our ciig O few afternoons since,
we noticed that funeral had just wound lis
way slowly up the principal pathway, and,
lingering for few moments, we saw tiiat the
eoncourse in attendance was unusually large,
while. as the last solemn ceremonies proceed
I'd, tears trickled from many an eye. Scenes
connected with death and the grave are Of
such every day occurrence, III thlckiy pop
lhated metropolis like ours, obituary notices
are so constantly written for the newspapers,
that the hearts Of mntitudes grow callons,
comparatively speaking, and few are touched,
except IN extraordinary cases, Or when some
Iogcd and cherished one Is torn from those 10
whom they have long been friends and bene-
factors. 10 see the thousands, indeed, hur-
Tying on from day 70 DAY, 20 apparently care.
less Of the future, and 80 utterly listless as
10 the life beyond the grave, one might sup
pose the opinion 10 prevail, that the soul per
ishc1 with the boly and that oil was night.
darkness and oblivion with the termination OF
our mortal being. Perhaps if one could oc
supy an ennence, and with the millions that
constitute The family o. man within the range
81 human vision, see the dcath.shatts Of the
Arch DESTROYER and the fall ng victims on
every side, the spectacle would afford an ade-
quaie view Of the perils Of this life, and Of
the hundreds constantly summoned 10 anoth
u and darker or brighter world. But II is
not So We know liille OF death, except
among those Immediately around US, and thus
many Of us wander on, greedy Of gain, and
sometimes penlng the pearls Vi soul with the
object OF aecumulating the dross Of Mammon.
aud rs il time, human existence and eternity
were the same. utthere are moments when
even the most stubborn are compelled 10
yield, when the ICY frozenness oil mans ma
lure is subdued, when the feelings gush forth
beyond our power to control them, and we re-
alze that we are indeed perishmg things OF
mortality. Such moment was that TO WHICH
we have called the attention OF the reader.
We saw before us Old Age, with lis white
hairs and bending form, -1 outh and Beauty
with their cheeks OF rose and eyes Of light
ripened Manhood, with It's erect form and firm
step, while sunny Childhood with It's laugh
ing voice was also there. But the hearts OF
old and Young seemed alike touched. The
cheek Of the aged was mostened, the long
lashes above the eye Of beauty was stepped
in tears, and conyulsiye sobs were heard irou
many near and dear relative. Even the
LIP OF the man Of God tremblei as he pro
nounced warm eulogy upon the virtues OF
the deceased, and, as tuning from the fresh
earth and the uncovered grave, he pointed the
thoughts Of the listeners upwards, 10 where
the white-winged spirit OF the disemhodied
scared TO join her angel voice TO these OF the
cherubim and seraphim
We listened not little moved at such a
scene, and anxious to know the cause Of such
unusual and general grief. The buried one
was the form of a young mother She had
- oil Sk ural hp
of her fathers house, and the earthly idol OF
a fond and devoted husband. Her marriage
had been one of harmony and love, and her
parents reloiced, because they did not desire
that the family should perish with them, be
cause they concuued in the preference Of their
child. and because the chosen one oil their al
ieciions was worthy. Thus every thing con-
spired to render the nup,lals suspicious and
happy. They were 50. The parties lived
10 harmony together for several years, tine
,neowing and sottcning the beauty of the
wife, and each newly developed merit Of her
character serving as a fresh lie 70 bind her 10
the affection Of her husband. But, as in eve
nv thing human, their cup Of Joy was not
without its dregs Of bitterness. The skg that
shone in its richness above them, was not
wholly free from shadow. Al the end Of five
wears they were still childless, and although
they endeayored each 10 conceal from the
other the disappointment aud the batlied ex-
pectation from year TO year, the topic was
constantly presenting itself, and was evident
" source Of uneasiness, not only 10 the hus-
hand but TO the wife. That one magic bond
was wantng-that link which seemed neccs-
sary 10 cement life TO life, and destiny with
destiny. Imagine then the JOY when, under
these circumstances, they believed that Prov
idence was about to respond 10 their prayers,
md that the expectations of all were about 10
be realized. There may be in the world those
who are Indifferent to such things; but there
are others who cherish the affections, to whom
childhood has thousand charms, and for
whom life would be comparatively desolate,
without some living pledge. Sunshine then,
once more broke in all its glory on the pros
poets Of the vet young wife, and the whole
family circle We're again happy. She was
now more cheerful than ever. Her husband
her friends all joined in the feeling. She had
the best wishes of many gentle heart, and
the kindliest sympathies of many a told moth
er. Her hour came. For moment all was
hope and expectation. Another and appre-
henson and agony succeeded. A little long
or. and mother and child were still aud cold
in the embrace of death.
The funeral, gentle reader, which we have
attempted 10 describe, was that of the young
mother. In realizing the dearest wish of her
heart, her soul had passed from lis tenement
OF clay, and sacred, we may hope, TO the re-
gions Of the best