The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-11-20

in measured tones OF the duty Of rcsig.
nation; they listened n. though they
heard not; they knew tha, with nll
that had gone before, the worst vas to
come.
Though him they mourncd was gone,
yet he was there. There we're the eyes
Chough rayless now. } that had beamcd
with untold love ill the last. The hand,
now crossed dumbly over the breast ,ha,
had struggled ieebly in death to find
the dear oues--,he tongue, ,l,a, in ial.
tcring accents had blessed them in the
last extremity the lips that were press,
cd to theirs, when life was cbbing.--
They could still l"ok upon them. gaze
upon them, agony though il was, to
know him. for the first time, unmindful
Of their sorrow. But the dreadful NOR.
row the sable garb, the pail, the cot.
fin. the bier; The sad final farewell con.
tanned in these words, "ashes to ashes
dust to dust" The aching stiffness o,
The sick mans room-ihe sight Of use
less drugs, delicate fruits and flowers
offered by friendship, the watch that
had proclaimed for him that ",ime
should be no longer" the hat, the gar.
mcn's, the staff, all, so many sad re-
'ninders the vacant chair the solitary
meal. the hopeless future. Alas ina
sination had not pictured it too wildly
it was all realzl.
With sinking hearts they clustered
together after the funeral like smilier
flock, to gather courage TO look to the
future. Hands that never knew toll
must now bc busy; no time must he
allowed for tender memories OF the
dead; the house hallowed by his pre-.
scnce must be forsaken. the wide world
was before them. Curious eyes would
follow malicious tongues be busy
with their Strengthened circumstances
who had basked in the sunshine of their
prosperity, would coldly pity and pass
on; friends # youth would dissolve in
the cruciblc Of adversely. All this they
felt. Occasionally, some one dropped
in, giving advice that they would never
have followed themselves in similar cir
cumstances, repeating such consolatory
maxims as the following:-." Its long
lane that has no turning" "Thc wheel
of fortune turns ,ound-those that are
down to-day are up tomorrow" 1ts
always the darkest just before day."
sc.
At length these comforts departed
they were again alonc; suddenly the
door opened, and rough, blunt, little,
old-fashioned man came in; nodded to
the mourning group, and seated him
self by the fire. Scanning them atten-
lively, his keen eye took it at glance
raising his hand, as If to deprecate con
versation, he sail.--" You needn't say
n word--don't trouble yourselves TO tall
to mel know all about it. Nobody
cares whether you cry; nobody cares
whether you laugh; you might walk
down town with bag Of potatoes on
you back, or you might let it alone
Nobody cares if you do. nobody care:
if You DON'T Everybody 'feels Io'
yon,' but nobody feels IN their pockets
! know all about it - I've been through
the mill myself. People will eat and
drink, laugh and he merry, just the same
as if you were not lcart-sick and pen
nyless; make up your mind to it, and
then you'll feel better. II any of your
friends are left, after the chnif is win
moved ont they'll he friends worth keep
ing. Here are nine hundred dollars
from your sailor cousin, to start on .
fresh voyage with and for the sorrow
that lies heaviest at your heart, look
aloft.' God bless you.
This was what may be called active
sympathy. When crushing aflctior
first falls, tho eye Of faith, though not
extinguished, oft times grows dim thro
tears the vision is obscured for tho
time it cannot be seen to be "a bless
ing in disguise :" words then, are use
less relieve outward wants, if there
are any, and "bide your time" wheI
the mind RECEIVERS its healthy tone, &c
drop "Me Word in season"