Litchfield enquirer., 1851-04-03
REFLECTIONS
On the Death of-

On the Death of-
 Francis H. Coe, who died Oct l6. aged l6' George Cemons, died Oct 26. aged 2l.
 Sybil Stone. died Nov 3l. aged 79.
 Jeremiah KilbOurn, died Drc l, aged g.
 Miner Potter, died Dec l3, aged GA.
 Martin Pratt. died Dec IS. aged 57.
 Marshall Griswold died Jan 6. aged 10.
 Mary Edith Pratt died Feb 9. aged 2.
 George Stoddard died March Is, aged l9.
 Seldom has community been more sig nally visited by sn affective Providence than that of whih the deceased were members. In following out this train of reflection, memory reverts to the time when no clouds of threatening disease and death hung darkly over the horlzon-wben our little community had no, put on the sable garb of mourning, and it's members of every age mingled in the busy scenes of active life. Three Aee,ing years have passed away, and how changed the scene! The places eS nDany are vacant and our eyes yaiDlv seek them in the circle in whic! they moved. Our friends, where are lheya Passed to that bourne from wltich DO trav- eler returns" The Pale Messt nger has stealthily entered our dwellings aud laid h,s icy hand upon the brow If his devoted victims. and the warm pulsation of many fated hearts has ceased to beat f'rexer -
 The lender infant, the spOrtive child, the blooming youth, the vigorous adult. and the hoary head, repose side by side, in their last resting place. Aching hearts. stricken. fire sides an.i lonely dwellings remind us of departed ones. We cherish their mem- ,ries. Often in the hours Of silence and
 rA.ction their imagies are before us. and
 we seem to hold converse with loved ones. ,sut we must follow them. The stream of
 lime in it's ceaseless flow is swiftly bearing us upon its bosom to eternity, and we shsll soon have passed away. Our names shall survive only in the memory Cf few, who in their turn must follow us and a remem> brance of us will be Cbliterated fiCm tho .arth. So passes the world away. Gener- ,tion follows generation as wave follows wave, and all must be embosOmed at h st in the ocean of eternity. How brief IS hu- man existence! How transient are all earthly things! How uncertain are the
 events of the morrow! To-day the bloom Of health and vigor is upon our cheek, to- ,no rrow it is pale and cold in the embrace of death. In the morning of life, when ,,ur hearts are warm with youthful vigOr. and glow with bright anticipations of the f,,ture. we commence pursuit Of some ia vored object, and when apparently. within reach we put forth our hand tu seize the nrize. but ere we grasprthe long sought ob- feet, the ruthless hand Ot death, sn"sches us away from amid our brightest hopes ana fondest expectations. Mans p'igrlmnge from the cradle to the grave. ." how throng- ed with toll and diversity Disappointment besets, trials and afflictiOns assail cares and perple xities await him. The thoughtIess- ness of infancy and childhood, the giddIness of youth. the stern care and reflection ot maturity, the in6rmity and decrePhrde ot age, measure the span of mans earthly existence. and he returns unto the ground from whence he was taken How true and forsible is the language of inspiration Man that is born of . woman hath but short time to live. aAd is full of misery. He cometh up like flower and is cut down. he aeeth as it were shadow, and never coutinueth in one place. In the midst of fife we are in death. All flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the f"wer ot grass. The grass wifhereth md the now- ar thereof faIle,h away Having eontom- plated dark page in the history Of man. let ma turn tO a brighter. Does man forever pass away? Is he forever biotted rom ex- istence1 Shall the silence of the grave re- main unbrOken? No! man possesses an ;nward. principle which the grave cannot confine = principle which shall survive inc wreck of the material universe and co exist with eternity. Man'sregenerates soul emancipated from the direful effects of ain. shall forever bask ia the enchanting sunlight of Jehovah's presence. breathe the atmosphere of spotless purity and changeless love, swell the anthems of celestial harmony which reverberatef through the heavenly arches, ever greet ing and transporting the weary. way worn. redeemed pilgrim. There. m sweet fellowship with the triune God> head. with angels and saints, prophets and apostles, the just made perfect; ana the whole company of the redeemed. pc shall forever partake of that joy which eve hath not seen or ear heard. neither hath entered into the heart of man to corceiye.' Bereayed. afflicted mOurner. raise your dro<ping head. and with the ,elescopic eye of faith, aided by height of revelation. catch . glimpse of that happy glori6ed throng. which surrounds the throne of God and is eradiated by the fadeless effllgence of him ~ho sits thareon. Per chance thou mOarnest for one who is nun besed in that bright and shining throDg. WOuldst thou pluck that gIorifed one, who shines, diadem in the SaviOur's crown. and bring it bask