Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-11-04

est, did not 50 much disturb her calm Of mind,
but drove her to his proper trust.
We had friend loved and lovely. He
mad genius and learning. He had all quail
ues, great and small, blending 10 most al
tracliye whole--a character as much 10 be To-
we'd as admired, as truly gentle as il was great,
and so combining opposite excelleneies that
each was beautiful BY the other Between
him and her who survives him there was a
reciprocity of taste and sympathy living in
each other, so that her thoughts seemed but
the pictures Of his-her mind but glass that
showed the very beauty that looked into it, or
rather became itself that beauty. Dying in
/ his diving. she did not all die. Her love, the
/ hearts animation, lifted her up; her sense Of
I loss was merged for while in her love and
confidence OF his goou estate. In strong and
trusting thoughts Of him rs a-bappy spirit and
/ oil God as ms and her pofaons she rested IN a
cloud. A falling from this elevation, was tru-
4 ly coming TO ones sci from Coda leav-
! ing Of heaven for earth. Let her tell the rest
IN words as beautiful as they are true TO ma.
ture. only desolaiing loss realize more and
more. For many weeks his peaceful and tri-
umphant departure left such All eleva,ing in
fiuence on my mind, that | could only think
of him as pure and happy spirit. But now
long for the period TO arrive, when may Law
down by his side and be reunited in nober
and more enduring union than even that which
was ours here"
Thus does the mind, when Ceases to lock
4 upward, fall from its elevation. Thus is the
low note Of sadness heard running through
all the music of life, when ourselves are the
instruments we play upon. The sorrow that
1 love nd II
must ever food the spirit and bear il down.
/ Our best and sweetest life, that which we live
in the good of others, is richly stocked with
charities Theliie which weliye in ourselves,
that which depends on our stores, is master
only Of chaff and smoke, when they ar taken
away, and destitute of he last relieving &C
conimodation, a resigned spirit The young
man whom Jesus told TO sell all his goods and
give TO the poor, and he should have treasure
in heaven, should be truly enriched-"was
sad at that saying" He understood not the
riches of love, which never feels itself so
wealthy as when ii has expended all in ODE
dience TO the commands ii honors never so
well furnished against want and sorrow. as
when best assured of the appreciation of its
object. In that we are creatures. we see how
poor we must be, having nothing laid up in
the Creator Selfshness is poverty il is the
most utter destitution Of human being. Ii
can bring nothing TO his relief; il adds sore
ness 10 his sorrows; il sharpens his pans it
aggrayates all the losses he is Liable 10 endure,
and when goaded to extremes, often turns des-
troyer and strikes lis last blows ON himself
/ 1t gives us nothing 10 rest in OF 10 fly TO, in
trouble; il turns our affections on ourselves,
sell on SELF, as the sap Of tree. descending out
ofseason from heavenward bra gches. and ma
king not only its life useless, hut its growth
downward
! If there is any thing ahousus which good
hearts wIllreverence, it is eur grief on the loss
of those we love. 1t is a condition in which
we seem to be smitten by Divine hand, and
thus made sacred. 1t is a grief, too, which
greatly enriches the heart when rightly borne.
There may be no rebellion Of the viii, the
sweetest sentiment towards God and our fel-
low-beings may be deepened, and still the des-
olauon caused IN the treasured sympathies
and hopes ofthe heart gives new color 10 the
entire scene OF life. The dear affections
which grow out Of the consangunities and
connections Of life, next to those we owe
TO God, are the most sacred Of our beng and
if the hopes and revelations Of a future state
did not come TO our aid, our grief would be
mmoderate and inconsolable, when these re-
latons are broken by death.
But we are not left to sorrow in darkness
Death IS as the foreshadowing of life. We
die that we may die no more. So short TOO is
our life here, mortal life at best, and so end
less is the life on which we enter at death. an
immortal life, that the consideration may well
moderate our sorrow at parting. All who
live must be separated by the great appoint
ment, and if the change is their gain, we poor
/ ly commend our love 10 them, more poorly
our love TO Christ, who came 10 redeem Them
and us. for the end of taking us to his rest, if
we refuse to be comlorted. Yes, il is selfish
to dwell on our griefs, as though some strange
thing had happened TO us, as though they
We're too important to be relieved, or il were a
virtue 10 sink under them. would revere all
grief of this kind, yet would say there is
such thing as will of cherishing it, which
makes it rather killing than improving in its
effect. This may be done under a eonceit OF
duty, or gratitude TO the dead ltmay be done
as sacrifice to what we deem is expected of
us, or as thing becoming in the eyes of 9TH
ers. But the bereavement seems rather sane
titled which saddens not the heart overmuch,
and sohens without whitening il; which retil-
SEES no comfort or improvement we can prof
taby receive. and imposes no restraints on the
rising hopes of the heart; which, IN short,
gives way and is lost in an overgrowth ofkind
and grateful affections.