Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-01-29
})ortital.
,filinc at Deaths holy hour.
ny WILLIAM n. cRASsTos.

Etlt WsldC lhtc NJ ihe hUuT Pue"'h,
And saw tho great transition &C ne OF ih' -
That wond',om quenchng Of the spirits fire
That yielding Of the frame, and breakin, oi
/ The sineYs OF existence. cannot
Paint the scene, tell in glowing language
What saw aud felt or give expression
Unto thoughts too great br moulded words.
Sweet girl, see thee still ! gare with awe.
IN fancy, on thee as saw thee last,
WLan lie vas eLbing, and thy gentle eyes
Were closing on "a world baptsed in sin,
Yet ming ed with the rainbow hues of bliss
And those Who loved thee best stood weeping o'er
Thy fair cheeks whtrncd by the dew of death.
| see thy graceful form still wing like
A marble statue from the sculp ptor's hand,
Der whirh the cbises last light touch had passed.
And lcf, ii a model piece Of art.
Thy youthful face calm, for pain had eh
No impress Of its visitation; and
Disease had marked thee with trace hut that
! BY Which We know the sleeping from the dead.
Thy last fau, breath passed gently of as If
BY angels Kissed away; and the last smile
Which fingered round thy lips be,okened joy
And gratitude that they had borne thee hence.
dld not Weep Tor even earnest WaIs
Were sacrtgous then, for there | stood
In DEATH pale hallowcd presence, and he came
TO bear thee to tie bosom Of thy God
loved thee with brothers fondness, and
Possessed thy sisterly affection; but
The fountains Of my heart were sealed, for Faith
Assured me that the gates Of heaven rolled back,
To give thee entrance from a world Of pain.
| could not weep, for sclf.hncss was lost
IN natures nobcr attributes. felt
The vanity o. life, the worth Of time,
For here | saw Gods words cx,mI Ilihed,
Ia fearful Truth SEP dust thu shalt rstwn ~
gazeJ in silence on thy lilecss form
For hours; watched o'cr thee a midnight spreud
Its welcome mantle oycr natures face.
1t rested like pail upon the cath,
Aud silence, deep almost as thine, reigncd round.
| cannot tell my thoughts in those strange hours.
As memory. resurrection rolled tide
OF long and deeply buried thoughts above
The surface Of the passing moments. Oh,
They came in VAGUE habilaacnts. Some seemed
Like strangers whom knew not; others like
Old friends, returning after times long lapse.
held communion with them again;
And with some !, wns u fearful mecting,-
For ericved that inn ulses so dayk
Had ever swayed a heart which God had made
For nober objects and for higher aims.
But then, my spirit glowcd with gratitude,
For her, and there met redecming traits.
And recollccions Of good deeds performed.
And aid To others rendered, when distress
AMI anguish preyed upon their sinking hearts.
Thus by thee in deaths calm sleep reposing.
! lived again the vanished years Of time,
And slowly turned the pages Of the past,
To see what record had been written there,7-
To know my errors, and to feel the force
OF Conscience, when aroused. IL was fitting
Thus to blend the living with the dead, and
Strip from lie the mask, in deaths own chamber
" Nhcgs My young form lay dead
knew thy worth.
Thy purity of though, and deed, aud all
The virtues which had made thee So beloved.
frlt the power or Dcath--in his presence
| wa. sitting; hcrc al that mortal was
OF one dearly loved, slept in his arms.
Thy heart had ceased to beat, thy lips moved not.
Angels had kissed th,m last, and death had placed
A seal oficy codncss on their curve.
Thy small white hands were gently folded, and
Rested upon thy bosom's purity.
The auburn curs still hung around thy checks.
Aud On thy breast snow-white rose was placed.
While gazing thus al thee, a little bird,
Unnoticed until then, chrred forth song;
Its triIling notes rang through NY very soul.
And broke the silence OF that holy place.
Iv.aa iua mi, H. for ei In
ooh, mourn no longer, for her soul il now
In Paradise, and che is listening TO
The cadcnces of heaven, the melody
The Angels chant around the throne of God 80
Then siIcncc reigncd again. A spirit voice
Next broke the spell, aud swcetly said, "mourn not
BE faithful in Iile's duties,- no more,
Bat let thine evry though, and deed be weighed
In Conscicncc's rcalrs; live ev'ry moment well.
As fits closing second was thy last.
Oh, go to God in prayer, aud seek ~ gain
Ills fuIIcs, pardon, with each closing day.
BE firm and just, and when thy summons Gomez,
Thine eyes will close peacefully mine;
And thy last breath be famed by angels wings
Who'll bear thee hence - Immortality.
Thy soul will fear not, aud it, guai dian then
w
And DER whose form oicbiD ia its k,st night
On earth, with love, thou 1T Watching"
looked up
To Him who dooth all things well,
And said, II mourn no more. yw be done
Oh, make me pure, and keep me ever in
The path which caocth unto heaven Shield ne
From temptations which entangc life, and
Rob the heart of all its virtues. Make me,
O God, as gentle in my lc--in death
As placid and srrcncl, beautiful
A she who passed just now through glory's cato,
And, living in Thy pre,cnce. swcstly speaks
An angels consolation from above,
To me, an crring mortal ob the earh,-
The lonely watcher o'cr her human form,
which, crn the darkness. OF another night.
Shall 90 10 that low bed where only God
Keeps vigil over dust Ilis hands again,
IN ~, own lime, viii mould to nobler life
Neuygi, ,oauory n, 1852.
fool s,y. tla A rab prnvarh ,.,...