Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-04
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THE GRAVE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

4 hV Solto" fOi eiC cCoo 40 uiC OiDt
sorrow from which we refuse to be d,-
vorced. Every other wound we seek TO
heal; every other affliction, to forget; but
this wound, we consider it duty to
keep open. This affection we cherish,
aud brood over in solitude. Where is
the mother who would willingly forget
the infant that has persisted like a bios
som from her arms, though every recol-
lection is pang! Where is the child
that would willingly forget tender pa
rent, though to remember be but to la
ment! Who, even in the hour OF agony,
would forget the friend over whom he
mourns!
No, the love which survives the tomb, is
one of the noblest attributes of the soul.
II it has its woes, it has likewise its de-
lights; and when The overwhelming burst
of grief is Gained into the gentle tear
of recollection; when the sudden anguish.
and the convulsive agony over the pres
ent rufus Of all that we most loved, is
softened away into pensive meditation
on all that it was, in the days of its love-
illness, who would root out such sor-
row from the heart? Though it NAV !,
sometimes, throw a passing cloud over
the bright hour of gaie.y, or spread
deeper sadness over the hour of gloom,
yet, who would exchange it, even for the
song of pleasure o. the burst CT revelry?
No, there is voice from the tomb sweet
er than song. There is remembrance
of the dead, to which we turn, even
from the charms Of the living.
Oh, the grave! the grave. 1t buries
every error, covers every defect, exlin-
cuisines every resentment! From its
peaceful bosom, spring none but fond
regrets and tender recollections. Who
can look down upon the grave, even of
an enemy, and not feel compunctous
throb, that he should have warred with
the poor handful of earth that lies mold
ering before him! But the grave of
those we loved, what place for medi-
,ation! There it is, that we call up in
long review, the whole history of virtue
and genteness, and the thousand endear-
ments lavished upon us, almost unheed-
ed, in the daily intercourse of intimacy;
there it is, that we dwell upon the ten
derness, the solemn, awful tenderness of
the parting scene; the bed of death, with
all its stifled grieis, its noiseless a.ten-
dance, its mute, watchful assiduities the
last testimonies of expiring love! the fee
BILE, futiering, thriling,-oh, how thrill
ing!-pressure of the hand! the last fond
look Of the glazing eye turning upon us,
even from the threshold of existence!
the faint, faltering accents, struggling in
death to give one more assurance of af-
lection!
Ay, 60 to the grave of buried love,
and meditaie! There settle the account
with thy conscience, for every past ben
eft unrequited; every past endearment
unregarded, of that departed being, who
never-never-never returns to be soolh-
ed by thy contrition! If thou art child,
and hast ever added a sorrow to the soul,
or furrow to the silvered brow of an
afectionate parent: if thou art husband,
and hast ever caused the fond bosom
that ventured its whole happiness in thy
arms, to doubt one moment Of thy kind
ness or thy truth; if thou art friend,
and hast ever wronged, in thought, or
word, or deed. the spirit that generous
ly conlided in thee; if thou hast given
one nnmerited pang to that true heart,
which now lies cold and still beneath
thy feet; then be sure that every unkin
look, every ungracious word, every nm
gentle action, will come thronging back
upon thy memory, and knocking dole
fully at thy soul; then be sure, that thou
wilt lie down sorrowing and repenlant
on the grave, aud utter the unheard groan.
and pour the unavailing tear: more deep,
more bitter, becal Sc unheard and una
vailing.
Then weave thy chaplet of flowers,
and strew the beauties of nature about
the grave; console thy broken spirit if
thou canst, with these tender, yet futile
tributes of regret; but take warning, by
the bitterness of this, thy contriie Attic
ton over the dead, and henceforih, be
more faithful and affectionate in the dis
charge of thy duties TO the living.
R- s. s. Hays has been nominated
as the Democratic candidate Tor Congress