Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-09-27
THE GRAVES OF THE LOVED.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

The grave is the ordeal OF true affection. III
is there the divine passion OF the soul mnnIies's .
lis superiority to the instructive impulses otmere
animal attachment. The latter must be cUntin. /.
ually refreshed and kept alive by the object, but
the love that is seated on the soul can live on
long remembrance. The mere inciinations OF
sense, languishng and declining with the charms
which excite them, turn with shuddering and
disgust from the precincts Of the tomb but 1t is
thence that true spiritual affection rises purified
from every sensual desire. Nnd turns like holy
fame to illuminate and sanctily the heart OF the
survivor. The sorrow for the dead is the only
sorrow from which we refuse TO he dtvorced,--
Every other would we sack TO heal-ever other
affection to forget; bu, this would we consider j,
duty TO keep open--the Affections We cherish
and brood over in solitude Where is the mother
who would wi lingly forget the infant that per
ished like blossom from her arms, though every
recollection is a pang Where is the daughter
who would willingly forget the most tender OF
parents, though to remember be but to lament
Who even in the hour of agony, would forget
the friend over whom be mourns Who, when
the tomb is closing upon the remains OF her most
loved when he feels bis heart, as it were, crush
ed in the closing of its pora-wouId accept con-
ISOLATION that must be bought by iorgeliuIness
No; the love which survives the tomb i one Of
the noblest attributes Of the soul II it has woes,
it likewise has its delights and when the overs
whelm.ng burst If grief is Gained into the gen
tie tear Of recolleClion--w the sudden and
convusivp agony is over-the present ruin OF all
, that we most loved is solIenpd away into pensve
meditation on all that it was in the days of It's
| loylinees Who would root out such a sorrow
from the heart Though it may sometimes
throw passing cloud over the bright hours OF
gayety, or spread deeper sadness over the hour
Of gloom. vet who would exchange il for the
song Of pleasure or the burst Of revrlry! NO
there is a voice from the tomb sweeter than
song. There i remembrance of dead to which
we turn even from the charms of the living
oh, the .rye the grave 1t 5uries every
error--covcrs every deiect-exinguishe every
resentment. FRI IN its peaceful bosom springs
none bet l'nd regret and tender recollection -
Who can lock upon the grave even OF an enemy,
and not feel a compunctiyc thfob that he had
ever warred against the poor handful oil earth
hat lies Numbering before him
Bat the graves Of those we loved--what
place ofmeditalion There il is that we call
! up in long r'yi'w the whole history Of virtue and
happiness, and he thousand endearments lavish
ed upon Us almost uuheeded in the daily inter-
course ofnlmacy; the tenderness of the part
ing scene--he bed Of death, with all its stilled
griets. It's nolsee.s attendance, lis mute, watch
ful assiduiles--ihc last testimonials of expiring
| love--,he feeble, Entering, lhril,jng-Nh, how
lhril ing -pressure of lhe band-he faint, fall
teriug accents, struggling in death to give once
more assurance of affection
! Az, 90 to the grave Of buried love and mcd
tate There settle the acc mt with conscience
/ for every past benefit unrpqn'ed, every past en-
/ dcament unrega,drd, of thai departed being who
can never, return to be soohed by thy contr
ton.
II thou art child, and hast ever added sor
row TO the soul or lurrow TO the silver brow o
an attectionate pafent-if thou art husband. anC
hast ever caused the fond boaom that vrnuret
its whole happiness in thy arms to doubt one mo
ment of thy kindness and tuh--if thou art
friend who hast ever wronged, in thought, o
word, the spirit that generous y confded in the
lit thou art a lover, and hast given one unmerlt
ed pang TO that heart that now lies cold and slil
beneath thy ee,--then be sure that every upkin
look, every ungracious word every ungentle &C
ton, will come thronging back upon the rnemor
and knock doleluliy upon thy soul then be sur
thou wilt lie down soriowng and repentng o
the grave. and utter the unheard groan. and pou
the unavailing tear more deer and bitter becaus
unheard and unavaiIing,
Then weave the chaplet of flowers and s'rev
the beauties of Nature about the grave--consol
thy broken spirit if thou canst, with those ten
der yet fertile tributes Of regret, and take warn
ing by the bitterness Of this thy contrite atiectio
over the dead, and hencelorth be more atiec
tomato in the discharge of thy duties to III
, living