Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-13
THE NIGHT or TEARS.


We often found him with his books, AM
the deep. silent woods. Sometimes he woult
stand and look into the mursaur;ng brook, o.
seat himself by the dashing waterfall or gas
from his window into the evening shadows
New leaves were opening in Natures wen
drous books, and the boy was studying ear
nestly ever varying pages.
One mild and mellow autumn night
well remember it, the air was soft and balmy
--lulling the hayward, restless spirit ii
child like peacefulness. The flowers gave
forth their choicest perfumes the birds their
sweetest notes. 1t was night to tempt one
forth to silent musings; or
ITO converse sweet
With nature
In her hottest moodD
The sun was setting gloriously behind
our mountain home
s'That night we climbed the highest peak
And fingered long to see its last rays streak
The soft blue sky beyond.o
Twas dark when we descended, and as
we approached our cottage. our ears were
startled With the cry
'He's lost he's lost.''
"Who's lost 2"
sour Boy p
Early that afternoon he left us, fresh and
joyous, to gather wild flowers for his sisters
hair.
The search was long and earnest We
were almost wild with anguish before the IT,
dings came that he was found. The dear
fellow had lost his way, and when the night
came on with the tall silent trees, and the
dark solemn clouds, fear came over him, and
he cried for help. Again and again he cal
led no answer reached him. So he gather
&c the newly fallen leaves, made of them
bed, laid him down, and fell asleep.
The night dews fell thick and fast on him
and God sent him angels for watchers We
found bim--with what wild rapturous cry
of delight we clasped him to our hearts let
those who have blue eyed cherubs answer
In the night we stole kiss from his check.
| offered up prayer for bin.
The morrow came, and with il burning
fever. The face was flushed, the pulse was
rapid, the eye was CLASSY, the hand so hot
we shrank from touching it O. what hours
of anguish Day after day, we watch bis
symptoms Day after day, Hope came each
morning and fingered awhile by bis bedside so
our hearts grew lighter, andwe dared to call
him ours.
A week passed away-a bitter week it
was-and still we hoped One day more the
doctor told us, and we should know the
worst. How earnestly we prayed for strength
to meet the future
The new morning came, and Death was in
the chamber doing his work.
Father of mercies where was strength for
such an hour? We gathered about his bed
and clasped him closer, as if to stay his de-
parture. But it was all vain. We felt how
weak was human strength, and our
Fathers face was yelled"
"Clouds and darkness were bout him" One
by one we left the room, and one by one we
come back We tried to be calm, but the
suppressed sob aud low moan woke the sleep
or. Slowly he opened his eyes, smiled, and
murmured mother - She clasped his bur
ming hand in hers bent over him whilst tue
tears fell on his face. "Mothcr,' he whis-
pered. II know all Mother am dying
In few hours your tears will fall on my cold
face / will not feel them. Weep not |
am happy. | all going to better land
But | shall remember you, and many tunes
viii come to you, and at night when you
kneel to pray, as you have done with nc, !
viii come to you, and you shall know tina.
your little boy is an Angel here" He fell
asleep.
Again his eyes opened they were too bright
to look on. "AIotherp' he whispered ''can
this be death ? Is this the dark vallcy2 1t
is beautiful to pass away from earth with the
songs of angels. am going, mother. They
call NE away. He was gone dead. His
voice was hushcd in that long sleep
(Which knows no waking"
We bowed around the bed Of our dead, in
speeches. agony. Death and silence presi
ded in that chamber Long and earnest
was the communion, we, who were heart
stricken, held with heaven. Our prayers
were heard-our triumph complete. We
rose, looked on the face Of our child, and With
clasped hands and uplifted eyes. breathed
forth the beautiful prayer "The Lord hath
given and Lord hath taken away. Blessed
be the name Of the Lord - Liberty Party
Paper.
------.e,><>S s-<>s--------
R<Fn0f the whole number Of 4S0 men,
belopoino 10 tho Bostnn LIGHT Infantry on