Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-01-26
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
\ H'Ols q Ii llS story.

The coffin was let down to the bottom
ofihc grave, tha planks were removed from
the hcaped up brink. the first rafting clods
had struck their kncil. The quick shovcling
was over, and the long, broad, skilliuIiy
cut pieces of turf were apty joined togcth-
cr and trinity laid By the beating spade;
so that the newest mound IN the church
ward was scarcely distinguished from those
tina, were grown over by the unllsdnrbcd
grass and daisies of luxuriant SPRING
The burial was soon over. and the party
with one conserving motion, having un-
covered their heads in decent reverence
ofthc place and occ asion, were beginning
10 separate and about TO leave the church
ward. Here some acquaintance from diff
tcrent parts of the parish. who had not had
an opportunity of addressing each other
in the house that had belonged to the de-
ceased. nor in the course of the hundred
yards that the little procession had 10
move from his bed to his grave. were shak
ing hands quietly but chccriuly. and en-
quirin. after the welfare Of each others,
families. There knot Of ncighhors' was
speaking without cNarrcration. Of the re
spectacle character which the deceased
had borne and mentioning TO one another
the little incidents oihis life, some ofthen
50 remote as to be known only 10 IN" grey
headed persons of the group. " lille a
few yards further. removed from the spot
were standing together parties who discus
sed ordinary concerns. altogether uncon-
nectcd with the tuneral such the state
of the markets, the promise of the season,
or change of tenants: but still with a So
briefly Of manner and voice that was in
sensibly produced by the influence of the
simple ceremony now closed, BY the quiz
ct graves around. and the shadow OF the
spirc and gray walls of the house of God.
Two men yet stood together at the head
Of the grave with severe and unimpaSsion-
ed griet.-Thcy were brothers only
sons of him who had been buried; and
there was something in their situation that
naturally kept the eyes, of many direc
ted upon them for long time and more
intently than would have been the case had
there been nothing more observable than
the common symptoms of common sor-
row. But these two brothers who were
standing at the head of their fathers grave
had for some years been totally cstrungcd
from each other. and the only words thai.
had passed them during all that time. had
been uttered within Il few DAYS past. du.
ring the necessary preparations for the old
mans funeral.
No deep and deadly quarrel was be-
tween these brothers. and neither Of them
could distinctly tell the cause of this un-
natural enlargement. Perhaps dim leal-
ousies of their fathers favor: selfish
thoughts that will sometimes force them
selves into poor mems hearts. respecting
temporal expectations: unaccommodating
manners on both sides: tauntnc words
that mean little when uttered. but which
rankle and tester in remembrance: imauin.
ed opposition of interest. that. dulv con-
sidered, would have been one & the same:
these and many other causes. Slight when
single. but strong when rising up together
in one baneful band. had gradually and
fatally infecte their hearts. till al last they
who in youth had been seldom separate
and truly attached. now met at market
and miserable to say. at church. with
dark and averted faces, like different clans.
men during feud.
Surely If anything could have softened
their hearts towards each other, il mus,
nave been TO stand silently side bv side
while the earth. stones. and clods were fall.
hing down upon their fathers coffin. And