Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-11-08
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.

till in the centre, appenred lOIn uhat nhd
been worthily ushered in with all this
gloomy pomp, the deatlI-kuell, and the iu-
neral. ID was the bridegroom III his shroud
No garb but that OF the grave could have
beftted such deatll-lke aspect; the eyes,
indeed, had the wild glcam OF sepulchral
lamp; all else was fixed in the stern calm
ness which old men wear ~ tie CONN. The
corpse stood motionless, but addressed the
widow in nccents that seemed to melt into
the clanp of the bell, which fell heavily on
the air while he spoke.
"Come. my BRIDE" said those pale lips
"Tbe hearse is ready. The sexton stands
vpitino for us at the door OF the tomb. Let
ms Lr nnrricd; and then to our cOiliDs!"
How shall the widows horror be repre-.
scntcdl 1t gave her tie ghoslliness Of dcud
mans bride.
Her youthful friends stood apart, shudder.
inc Mt Inc shrouded bridegroom, and herself;
the whole scene expressed, BY the slrnugest
imagery, the vain Struggle OF tic gllded van
tiles ofthis world, when opposed TO age, in-
FIRMLY, sorrow, and death. The awe-siruck
silence was first broken by the clergyman.
WMr. Elenwood," said he, soolhiugly, yet
with somewhat of authority, "yUu are not
we'll. Your mind has been ngiiutcd by tie
unusual circumstances in which you are
paced. The ceremony must he deferred.
As an old friend, let me cntrcat you to return
home"
Hone yes; but not without my BRIDE"
answered he, in tie same hollow accents
"You deem this mockUry; perhaps madness.
Had bediZzcuCd my aged and broken irauc
with scarlet aud embroidery ] forced
my withercd lips 10 smlc ut my dead heart
that mglt have been mOcicry, or mad
ness. But now, letyuung and old declare,
which of us has come hiiher without a
wedding garment, tho bridegroom or the
brldom
lie stepped forward at a ghostIy pace, and
stood beside the widow, contrasting tie aw-
lt simplicity OF his STROUD with the glare
mud glitter ia which she had urraycd herself
Tor this unhappy scene. None that beheid
them could deny tie terrible strength of the
moral which his disordered intellect had con-
triycd to draw.
Cruel cruel !" groaned the hoart-strickcu
bride.
Cruel" repeated he; then losing his
death-likc coniposure in u wild bitterness,
" Heaven Judge which OF us has been cruel
to the other! lu youth, you deprived me of
my happiness, my hopes, my aims you took
away all the substance Of my HE, and made
il dream, without reality enough even to
grievc nt-witli only pCryading gloom, lhro'
which walked wcarily, and cared not whiIh-
er. But after forty years, when have built
my tomb, aid would not give up the thought
OF resting there,-iO, not for such lie MS
we once picturcd,-yOu call me to the altar.
At your summons um here. But other hus-
bands have enjoyed your youth, your beauty,
your warmth OF heart, and all innt could be
termed your life. What is there for me but
your decay and death? And therefore
hHyc hidden these funeral friends, and bcspo-
ken the scXton's deepest kucll, aud am come,
in my shroud, to wed, MS with burial ser
vice, that we may Join our hands at the door
of the scpulchre, aud enter it together"
Ii was not frenzy it was not merely the
OF strong emotion, in n hear,
unused To it, that now wrought upon the
bride. The stern lesson Of the day had done
It's work her wOrldliness WAS gone. She
seized the bridegroom's hand.
"Yesm cried she. Let us we'd, even at
tue sepulchre My life is gone in vanity and
emptiness. But at It's close, there is one true
feeling. 1t has made Inc whut / was in
youth it mikes me worthy OF you. Time is
no more for both Of us. Let us wed for
eternityw
w tll a luilH WllN ui't' aNed1Ns lllt lillVt-
groom looked iuto her eyes, while II tear was
gathering in his own. How strange that glIsh
of human feeling from the frozen bosom of Il
corpse! tie wiped away tie tear, even with
his stroud
Beloved Of my youth" said he, 81 have
been wild. The despair of my whole life
time had returned at once, aud maddcncd
me. Forgive, and be forgiven. Yes, il is
evening with us now; aud we have realized
none oi our morning dreams of happiness
But let us join our hands bclurc the altar, us
lovers, whom adverse circumstances have
separated through life, YET who meet again
as they are leaving il, aud find their earlliy
affection changed into something holy MS rc-
lIgion. Aud what is time TO the married of
eternity"
Amid the tears of many, aud swell of
exalted sentiment, iu those who felt aright
was solemnized the union of two immortal
souls. The train OF withcrcd mournels, the
hoary bridegroom in his shroud, the pale
features Of the aged bride, aud the deutlI-bcll
tOiling through the whole, till lis deep voice
overpOwercd tho marriage words,-ull mark
ed the funeral Of earthly hopes. But ms the
ceremony proceeded, the Orgnu, MS If stirred
by the sympnthics of this impressive scene,
poured forth an anthem, first mingling with
The dismal knell, then rising 10 lOlier strain,
I'LL the soul looked down upon lis woe. And
when the awful rite was finished, and with
cold hand in cold hand, the Married of Eter-
nifty Withdrew, the organs peal OF solemn
triumph drowned The Wedding Knel
Very Modest.