Democratic banner., 1849-01-29
THE SOLITARY HEARSE-

"About my hearse some mourners wOuld
have,
VINO might the same accompany and stand abou
the grave"
This couplet was forcibly brought e
mind a day or two since by seeing a lionel,
ne arse bearing a body to the grave, follow,
ed oy no mourners, and from a house wbers
grief seemed to dwell not. No eyes were
oimmed with tears as the last of fail NOR
ltality was born from the house of death
and placed in that dead vehicle, the sight
OF which will bring a cloud upon the bright.
est brow, and check the light laugh upon
the merriest lips.
Passing home the night previous, at mid
night-the hour "when church-yards yawn
and graves give up their dead"-onr at
I~tention was attracted by seeing a small
wooden tenement, with its doors standing
wide open and its windows raised; and
Haunting from them, tapping wildly in the
InIght-breeze, long white curtains, while a
bright light streamed from the same amer.
lures, and Illuminating the damp and black
street sidewalk where it fell, the figures Of
.noiseless rats slipping over the wet ground
like unearthiy vistants, were magni6ed in
to quadruple their real size. There was
no sound Of r~evelry in that dwelling. Up
on the opposite side stood watchman lean
ing against a door post, gazing steadily at
the open house. As we passed, he stopped
us, and said in q low voice; "Look over
there, sir, if you want to see misery" In.
the rear Of the apartment, immediat. " OPP
posite the door, was a coffin, covered with
a white psll, with candles burning neat it.
Sitting in the room were three females, as
cold, as haggard, lifeless-lookidg almost, as
she who was late their companion in life,
but now slept the sleep of death: for d wo-
body was in that coffin. No sign of
affection or regret was depicted on their
countenances; but dread fesr-fear Of the
coming of the last scene of life-fear Of
the solitary death-bed, where all the sins of
a misspent life should lush upon their ach-
ing brain, aud no time left to lead a differ
life-fear Of appearing at that Judgment
from which there Is no turning
Thoughts Of happier days-days Of purity
and innocence-were fitting before them ;
/ ecolleetions Of q happy home, Of fond re-
whose only care was for their vel
fare ; Of iresides which they had blasted,
Of he arts which they had wrung aud bro
ken ; aud for what9 for m~ercenary ends for
the intoxicating, ~maddening cup: for pleas
ures what a perversion Of the WORLDLY
which they coveted but which they found
were niseries; for that which stripped cfI
its glittering false coating, they found TO be
a hideOus object. They thought, perhaps
Of how they should end their days, with mol
kind hand to smooth their pillow, none toI
bid them a las. farewell aud perform the
last sad Offices, save those whom money!
could procure or charity actuate. She
who had just been called from the haunts
IF vice was one Of the unhappy crea-
lures who are looked upon as ontcastS up
On society, who have lost that immortal
part of themselves, "reputation," leaving
behind but what is CELESTIAL" mol
no inscription will mark the
place where the child Of shame rests, none
a requiesc0t in pace over the last
-esting-placs. Of her who passed to the grave
that solitary hesrse.-N D. Picayunc,
Dee. 21. /