Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-20
ThoashiS on Death.
aY V. IAsrEN BLAcKRuaN.

:
beng fade IN the mystic embraces Ct that sleep
which knows no waking, brings US, if any visible
influence can. to mediate upon destiny in
thoughts freed entirely from the trammels of the
f1esh-brings US to study our relation to our CreA-
tor in train of feeling acceptable TO Him and prof
liable to ourselves.
1t Is natural for man to sympsthae with ::
1t is not at all times however, that the heart caG
engage in feelings (which the head would dictate
or suggest as proper.
Manhood flushed with health seldom meditaes
on death; he, around whose brow the ills and mas
fortunes of earth have never left an impress and
whose path has never been streWn with the With
erng leaves of his own hopes blasted too soon Is
the invisible hand of Fate, but whose career has
been one of undisturbed prosperity and tA>t nei-
Their contemplates properly the hour of his own
dissolution nor appreciates the tears OF those who
weep: the mourner with such one finds no sym
patty: the cooing turtle dove could As REASONABLY
look TO The nests OF the screaming night-b birds OF
prey for coDgenial mate, for the sorrow strck-
tn nourner to expect to meet responding unison
from the heart of whose social nor kindred lies
have ever been severed We can only BE- brought
to mourn with those who mourn and weep with
those who weep, by first learning from EXPERIENCE
something of the feelings Of those who sorrow in
tears to appreciate the waings of the bereayed,
we must first ourselves be bereaved
The poet You're speaks OF the chamber where
the good man meets his fate as being place or
scene that is privileged even beyond the common
walk of virtuous lIfc-''quiet the verge of heav-
en- aud the expression is both beautiful and
true.
| have stood by the chamber where the good
man had died, and have looked upon the form of
the christian husband and father as he rested as
were in Il sweet sleep of pleasant dreams, with
features easy and natural, and no signs of death
upon his temple save cammy coldness and
have heard Jhe shouts and shfi.ks of his Devil
dered and heart broken widow, and behold at his
bedside stricken daughter upon her knees call
ING upon his name in the Wildness of despair and
have noticed the vacant look and lost appearance
OF his thong htess little ones as they wandered
around in breahless silence, wipiDg ever and anon
the ricking tear from their innocent cheeks; these
scenes have | witnessed, and have sorrowed for
The distressed with sorrow that found go utter
ance, because | knew from experience the nature
Of the wounds that pierced their bo4oms.
1t is hard task to witness the death of those
we love: to watch the changing features of those
whose sneiet is dearer 10 and more sacred than
the breath of our own life and 81 nc dark WA =
of dissolution roll the brow and close the IA
niiar eye forever, and to know that never again
those lips shall move nor the tongue utter speech,
nor the hand be stretched forth to greet us, nor
sad, indeed. and kndles in the doting heart deep
regret and much sorrow and mourning
have seen the sweet churub infant that never
knew sin nor thought of evil brought to tread the
cold path of death its little feet had never walked
the earth, nor its tongue learned to lisp its moth
er's nanae--yet its time to die had come And as
the last breath of this babe was snatched away
by the passing zephyr and its serene features set
/ tied into the txcdness of beauty not of EARTH
and the weeping mother wiped from its little brow
the last cold drop of pain, and kissed its slkt n
lips l have felt in my breast mournful pleasure
and have been ready to say, There is beauty in
Death p Yet, there left in the heart feel
ing of sorrowful mystery which nothing but hope
in things unseen could heal: the thought of heav-
en-, and the belief in pleasant scenes beyond the
grave. were indulged-the land where youth new
er fades nor innocence suffers spread out its en-
raptuTed plains before the weeping eye, and caus-
ed the bleeding heart to rest for the while secure
and content in pleasant anticipation Of joys to
come.
| And have seen this same mother brought to
the verge of the tomb and with one hand reach
ing out TO heaven for the babe who had gone be-
tore and with the other bidding adeu to those
who were to be left behind, | beheld her pass
away, as a thin transparent cloud in the sky, thai
divides either way, and whose parts are soon los
to sight in the blue expanse of space.
| And have witnessed the mother die who haC
never buried a child, and who had never been call
f ed TO the couch of dying husband or near rela
tive. She was content to 20. and depart withou
} murmur. She had brother in heaven, but sht
had not seen him die; yet she often wept for him
? and believed she would meet him in rest hereafter
4 She died. beheld her breathe her last breath
] and her husband, who stood by her couch ant
: wept aloud closed her eyes in the deep sleep q
the grave He had promised TO do so in the day
5 of her health; for when death seemed afar of
S an there was no pain to trouble her rest she hs
h otter said to him. Dear, when / die you wi
n close nv eyes--will you not? For shall die be
: fore you. and would prefer that you should clos
! INV eyes and see me die I" But he had though
she would be spared him many years: for sh
If vas the mother of three babes, and how could b
e and they live without her? Yet she was 500
e called away and the bereaved husband, with b
three little babes, left to weep over her toni
!. The scene was a sad one. The husband wept
S. the bitterness Of his soul; and taking up his lit
d infant chill rem, he held them before his dyln
10 wifes eyes, that she might look upon them for u
last time; and then his tears dried up, for ne cou
re weep no more.
1t is sore trial thus to be separated from uneI
n so sacred. All he who has never experience
lie the pangs of scenes like this, knows nothing
al tie sorrows of one who mourns over the ashes
h a lost wife or huSband--to such one the sto
IN of Death terrors is as changing, mystic drear
ut without realization or shape: but all who ha
ly had companions, kindred and friends torn fro
them, understand Wellthe language of the funer
r. dirge. and readily catch the meaning and imbi
it. the sympathy of the signs and tears of those W