The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-05-23
The Passing Bell,
@In the midst of life we are in death"

Ahothef OF our race has gone to his las
repose. The messenger of death has
borne another loved one TO the spirit land
The domestic circle has again been bro.
ken, notwithstanding the skill of physi.
clans and the tears of bereaved friends.
See yonder procession, with measured
tread, following the remains of one dear
as life to that final resting place. What
sorrow, what loneliness, what feelings oI
desolation, what emptiness of earthly ioys
now fill their hearts, as they take a long
long look at that dear but lifeless clay!
Who is this SO recently done with thing:
beneath the sun!
| The aged sire. having out-lived his gen.
Grafton, whose head was long since whi.
tened for the harvest gathering, is now nc
more. Grief-stricken are his children, as
they realize their loss, that he to whom
they have always looked for counsel and
instruction is removed from them forever.
An affectionate husband has been taken
from the embrace of the wife Of his bosom:
She stands by the grave and weeps as tho
her heart would break. She feels, oh how
deeply feels, the wound that has pierced
her lnmost soul, and as if she had lost her
all of life. To her this is a day of sad
ness and gloom, such as she had never
known before, and now she could almost
wish to be quietly resting by the side OF
her husband.
A devoted wife and tender mother has
been removed from the companion of her
youth and the children of her pride. Dis
ease fastened upon her life, and took her
hence. Aid was preferred, but in vain.
Now the husband feels that all of earth is
held but by feeble tenure. Now does a
deeP-drawn sigh escape his lips, as he be-
holds the object of his early love shrouded
In the drapery of the tomb. AS he stands
gazing upon those loved features, so firmly,
coldly fixed and yet with that same sweet
smile that had ever rested on them, come
up those words of tenderness and confding
trust, those acts Of kindness, those atten-
tlons to his every wani, her virtues and
her moral worth, till he would fain have
died to save her. The children gather
close around, while from their eyes fall
tears like drops of rain. Motherless ones,
;hey weep, they mourn. and we'll they may,
Tor they have lost friend whose deep,
pure love no pen can portray, nor tongue
describe. Henceforth the father binds them
closer to his heart, as if he would in them
behold the image of her, in whom his
highest earthly hopes were centered.
A youth, blooming with health and vig-
or, is stricken down at single blow. And
yet, could beauty, intellectual development
OF line education have interposed, that
group of mourners were now at their own
homes, rejoicing that their number was
unbroken. But ah! the shaft was sent
with unerring aim. Those bereaved pa
rents, who had looked forward, cheered
with the hope that this star would brighten
the evening of their days; the sorrowing
brothers and sisters, whose delight it had
been to render happy the dear departed;
the chosen one, now crushed in utter des-
pondency, and refusing all attempts at con-
ISOLATION; the circle of friends stripped of
their brightest member, are now called up
on to look for the last time upon the earth
ly tabernacle of one-oh, how fondly
loved! Their hearts bleed at every pore,
and they strive each to console the other
with words of sympathy, but tears and 81
lent grief forbid them utterance. Only
deep down within the soul, where thoughts
commune with the inner self and with their
Maker, can they find peace.
A lovely infant, just beginning to steal
away the parents affections, has been re-
moved hence by the angel gatherer. The
treasure the fond mother had purposed to
wear upon her own heart, as an ornament
of joy. But no, she must now, though
reluctantly, yield it up to deck another
sphere. In her grief she looks upon the
casket which is soon to crumble, while she
sees not the jewel it contained. Yet, would
she dry up her tears and erect her eye
above, she would behold her lost gem re-
placed in a more brilliant setting. where it
will shine in undimmed splendor, amid
thrones and dominions forever and forever.
'lt is better to go to the house Of mourn
ing than to the house of feasting, for by
sorrow the heart is made better Thus it
is rendered certain that we all must die.
The infant, the youth, middle aged and
the aged must alike return to their mother
dust.
IF man die shall he live again?'
This all-important question is prompted by
such an hour; and to its affirmative answer
both the analogy of nature and the inspi-
ration of the scriptures fully concur.
Yes, it is certain that we lay down these
bodies of ours, and as certain that we shall
rise again, clothed with immortality.
BLESSED are they that have part in the
first resurrection
81 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.