The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-22
"THIs HAND NEVER sRUCK ME-"

"THIS HAND NEVER SRUCK ME-"
We recently heard the following most
touching incident. A little boy had died.
His body was laid out in darksned, re-
tired room, waiting to bs laid away in the
lone, cold grave.
His afflicted mother, and bereaved little
sister went in to look at the sweet face Of
the precious sleeper, for his face was beau.
tiful even in death. As they stood gazing
upon the form Of enc so cherished and be-
loved, the little girl asked to take his hand.
The mother at first did not think it best,
but hsr child repeated the request, and
seemed very anxious about it, she took
the cold bloodlsss hand of her sleeping
boy and placed it in the hand Of his weep.
ing sister.
The dear child looked at il moment,
carrsssed it fondly, and then looked up to
her mother, through the tears of affection
and love, and said, Smother this little
hand ncrer struck me!' pes
What could be more touching and
lovely?
Young readers. have you always been
so gentle to your brothers and sisters, that
were you to die such tribute a. this
could be paid TO your memory? Could a
brother or sister take your hand. wore il
cold, and say, "Thls hand never struck
mel"
What an elevation to our grief when
we are called to part with friends, to be
able to remember only words and actiona
actual kindness and love. How bitter
must be the sorrow, and how scalding the
tears of rsmorse, Of an unkind child, as
he looks upon the cold form. or stands at
the grave Of brother or sister, father or
mother, towards whom he had manifested
unkindness. Let US all remember, what
soever we sow, in this respect, that we
shall also reap.-WeH Spring.
VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL MOULD.
If the forest.leaves that annually fall to
the ground did not rot, and become ulti-
mately dissolved and return to their ori-
ginal elements. they would soon accumu.
late to the depth Of many feet The pro.
gress Of decay in all vegetables and ami
mails and their products, is governed by
fixed natural laws; and those organized
bodies decompose in that way which will
best promote the growth Of new genera
tons of living beings. Mould is the half
way house between the living and the dead
1 in the organic and inorganic worlds. i
covers the surface of islands and CONT
nsnts like carpet. and is treasure o
inestmable value when properly used BY
the husbandman. The fertilizing power
of mould depends partly on its peculiar
mechanical and porus structure, and part
ly on its chemical composition. All po'
rus substances, like charcoal, plaintinun
sponge, and well pulvsrized clay or loan
have tho property Of condensng gase'
and retaining odors. This is shown in thu
practice OF burying dead animals in mould
charcoal, or earth, to prevent the escape
Of offensive odors and gases to poison thu
atmosphere. This property in mould il
purely mechanical; but it is none tn.
less useful in tho economy Of nature or
that account. When intimately mingled
with compact earths, by the use Of the
plow, harrow, and cultivator. mould in
crsases their friability. and promotes tn,
i chemical action Of atmospheric air anG
the development Of all the latent element
Il Of fertility in the soil.
i But why is it that the remains Of q tur
nip or potatoe form mould or manur
adapted to the natural wants OF all thei
crops? q
| This il the reason: all crops, including
Of course, turnips and potatoes. consis
mainly, Of three elementary bodies, calle'