Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-07-01
THE TIME TO DIE.
BY MISS MARTHA A. wIswALL, OF ALnAs,

Ii was winter. Before cheerful fire sat an AGED
man In lonely meditation. The curtains fell in
heavy folds to the floor. casting an air of comfort
over the room, and excluding the piercing cnld.-
Yet tremor passed over the frame of the old man,
as the storm without fell upon tho old mans ear
81 am thankful have shelter on such night as
this, said he, drawing his easy chair TO the fire.
| "Wo 10 the wretch that roams abroad in such n
storm - then musing for some time, he began pa
eng the room, and ever and anon paused in deep
thought, which at length found expression death
is a fearful thing TO contemplate at any time, but
IN such season as this, methinks would struggle
hard for life. To be placed deep in the cold frozen
earth; no! she herself seems TO strive to prevent
the act and winds her robe of snow her strong
breast TO prevent admltancc within her BOSOM
When ! die, may ii be in the bright and JOYOUS
spring time, when all is fresh and gay But bark
surely did not hear knock, for who would ven
ture out on such night % and opening the door.
he saw before him a girl who begged for shelter
In accents TO excite pity in the hardest heart The
appeal was enough for the kind hearted old man :
and drawing her within the room, he gave her a
seat near the fire. and tried to revive her dropping
frame. After she had Sc far recovered as to answer
his inquiries, she told him she was a lonely crea-
ture, with no friend in the world she had roamed
about from place to place, living charity; she
had never known father, or mother, or relative
which had for some time occupied him, asked her
If death would not be welcome messenger to her.
as she had nothing for which TO live, and no one
cared for her-woud she not be willing TO die and
be at rest?
"Oh! ask me not TO give up my life, il is some
times bright and Joyous. In the lovely summer,
the flowers are my friends, the birds speak TO me
from the trees, and the bee winds his tiny horn for
me, and then wander forth 10 the green woods,
Il a h..
| time TO die''
Years rolled on, the spring appeared gradually
bright, the birds rejoced on every bough all nature
smiled to welcome the blithe Goddess of Spring.
But the old man. had new ties to bind him TO the
earth the house5Fss wanderer was now as daugh-
ter to him; his interest in her strong bond
| to be easily broken. 1t was as hard TO leave the
world as in the cold aud dreary winter age seem
ed but TO strengthen the love of life, although
youth was withered and nature dying. yet life |!
life only" was his desire.
| Spring passed, and summer, with its mild and
baimy air, visited the earth the maiden smiled in
gladness of heart, and the old man reoiced in her
happiness, for she threw JOY and bliss around ); her
happy laugh rung upon his ear i'll wild and merry
peas as she watched the flight of the butterfly, and
her sweet song upon the air as she tended her
birds and watched the opening of each bud 10 the
light. Time flew swiftly by, yet the old man and
the maiden were fondly attached 10 the earth rs
IN spring time. Death gained new horrors as the
season advanced; their summer paths were strew-
ed with flowers. sit was no time to die"
Autumn, with lis purple grape, and downy
peach, and pleasant nuttng time, took the place OF
summer, and brought with ii lightness and JOYOUS
ness of cool air and freedom from the oppressive
! heat the little maiden trpped through the drv
leaves, md chased the squirrel with almost its own
swiltness; then throwing back her sunny curIs
she bounded to the side of the old man, as he sal
under the vines at his door, making glad his eyes
with her bright and happy face, and his heart crew
young again; IN her light5Ome joyous miTth both
| little thought OF death. The earth had clothed
her in robe of brown and dry leaves. and hid her
self from the eye of man--she seemed not to wish
for human company in this her time of change.
Winter again returned again we see the ole
man sitting in his easy chair before the brrh anC
| glowing fire but he is not the solitary being h,
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 no less lovely, no less happy.
but deeper thought steals her face. and ;
! heavenly radiance sits upon her features, as sb,
bends the book from which. in accents Of deer
reverence she reads the Word of God to the ole
man.
What think they Of death ? The faces Of botI
look moro restrained; the Holy Spirit sheds is
light upon the way which leadeth to the crave /
no longer seems dark and lonely The old man re-
ceived the heavenly guest into heart which ha,
always been the residence of kindness and charity
The maiden now dropped daily, but she no lonpc
thought it hard TO give up life and when the col,
blast swept over the earth, and the robe of snow
enveIoped it, with robes no less white. she was re-
ceived into its bosom. Then I asked the old man
'Wben is the time to die y
"a holy calm was his brow,
| And peaceful his breath;
\ And swcctly DER his features stole
smile, look divine
| He spoke The language Of his soal--
"My Masters time Is mine -"