The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1848-05-24

! By the inhaence Of The simple ceremony
nOE closed. By The quiel graves around.
and the shsd0w AZ The spiEe and grsy
sails nl lie house Of God.
II Two men yet slOOc together II he held
} 'of The grave with severe and unimpsssion-
ed grief The were broihes-lhe only
sons Of him who had BEEN buried; and
there vas something IN their situation
that naturally kept The syes Of many d.
reried upon them for long tine. and
more inienily Than would have been the
case had there been nothing more obseE-
Eahle Than the common symptoms 10 CON-
men soIrnw. Bul these lwo brothers who
were standing 81 The head other lsthsr's
grave. had lnr some years been totally
eslranged from each other. and The only
words that had passed between them dur
ing oil that time had been uttered within
. feE days past, during The necessary pre-
parslions for the old mans funeral.
No deep and deadly quarrel was he.
tween these brothers. and neither Of them
could distinctly tell the cause oflhis unna-
turalestrangement. Perhaps dim jealousies
Of their fathers favor: selfish thoughts
that will Sometimes force themselves into
p0or mems hearts, respecting temporal
expectations; accommodating manners
on both sides: tsunting words that mean
little when uttered but which rankle and
tester in remembrance; imagined opposi-
lion Of interests. that. duly considered,
would have been one and the same; these
and many other causes, slight when single.
but strong when rising up together in one
baneful band, had gradually and fatally
infected their hearts, iill al last they who
in youth had heen seldom seperaie, and
truly attached, now met al market, and
miserable 10 say, al church, with dark and
averied fares, like different clansmen dur
ing feud.
Surely IL anything could have softened
their hearts towards each other. il must
have been TO stand silently side by side,
while the earth, stones, and clods were
. falling down upon their fathers coffin.
t. And doubtless their hearts were so soflen-
ed. But pride. though il cannot prevent
the holy affections Of nature from being
felt, may prevent them from being shown;
and these Two brothers stood there togeih-
er, determined not TO let each other know
the mutual tenderness iha, in spite of them
was gushing up in their hearts and teach
ing tiIrm the uncOnfessed folly and wick
edness Of their causeless quarrel.
| A head-sione had been prepared, and
person came forward 10 plant it-a nlain
stone, with ssnd-glass, scull and eoss-
; bones, chiselled, not rudely, and few
words inscribed. The younger brother re-
garded The operation with troubled eye,
and said, loudly enough to be heard by
several Of the bystanders-" William, this
is not kind in you-you should have told
me this. loved my father as well az
YOU could have loved him. You were
the elder, and il may be, the favoriie son;
but had right in nature TO have joined
you in ordering this head-s,one, had | mott"
During these words the stone was sink
ing into the earth, and many persons who
were on their way from the grave, return
. ed. For while the elder brother said
nothing, for he had consciousness in his
heart that he ought to have consulted his
fathers son in designating this last mark
of affection and respect TO his memory:
the stone was planted in silence, and nav
stood GREET, decently and simple. among
the other unostentatious memorials Of the
humble dead.
The inscription merely gave the name
and age OF The deceased, aud told that the
stone had been erected BY his " affection
ale sons" The sight of these words
seemed TO soften the angry man, and he
said somewhat more mildly "Yes, We
are his affeclionate sons. and since my
name is on the stone, | am satisfied,
brother. We have not drawn together
kindly Of late years, and perhaps never
, may, but | acknowledge and respect your
worth: and here before our friends and be-
fore The friends of our father, with my
foot above his head. express my willing
: ness to be on better and other terms with
YOU, and If we cannot command our
hearts, lei us at least bar out all unkind-
ness"
The minister, who attended the funeral,
and had something entrusted 10 him to say
publicly before he left the church yard.
now came forward, and asked the elder
brother, why he spake not regarding this
matter. He saw that there was some
thing of cold and sullen pride rising up
in his heart. but not easily may any man
hope to dismiss from the chamber of his
heart even the vilest guest, il once cherish
ed there. With a solemn and almost
severe air, he looked upon the relenting
man, and then, changing his eountenance
into serenity, said gently
Behold how good a thing it is,
4 And how becoming well,
i Together such as brethren are
4 In unity to DWELL"
The time, the place. and this beautiful