Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-10-27
g88DAT READING
The Three MaryS.

About IL or IA years ago, though quite a
boy at that time, | distinctly remember be-
ing deeply impressed with the death of a
youthful cousin who was suddenly snatched
from earth to live forever with Him, who
once said, Suffer little children to come
unto me- SC. She was but a child when
the hand of death was laid upon her, and her
heart was loving and tender and susceptible,
for it was pure and had not been petrihed
by the lying ~vanities of life. She had many
ties to bind her affections to earth-an affee
tomato father and mother, and beloved sis
ters and brothers and kindsmen. But sus
tanned and strengthened by the wonderful
power of God, she was prepared to leave all
these and fearlessly walk through the valley
and shadow of death. Faith revealed to her
a foresight and f~oretaste Of the Promised
Land, and the disenthralled spirit, as it took
its fight from the body, left behind the i'm
press Of its happiness. An angelic smile
fingered upon the clay-cold lips of the sain-
ted Mary, an impression which neither time
nor circumstances can erase, fingered in my
heart. We bore her to her resting place and
sorrowfully performed the last sad task of
life-and as the damp clay ratified on her
coffin, other hands than those of kindred,
tried in vain to force back the pouring tor
rents Of sorrow.
Four years passed away, after had fol-
lowed cousin Mary's body to the graveyard
and again my heart was bowed in deer
sorrow. Another Mary--a beloved sister
was stricken down by the great Destroy
err. She had left her Highland home, th'
home Of her youthful and unclouded years
to 90 to a strange and far distant land
with one whom she loved with all the deer
confGing trust of woman's affection. Sh
went forth from us in health and hope an
happiness; but alas! 10 a little while, til
sad news came to us that Mary was no more
She now sleeps far distant from her child
hoods home; but Christ was hers, and sh
therefore sleepeth well.
And, now again another Mary has gou
from us, one that for many years had gIaC
dened our hearts and caused us to some e!
tent, to forget our early bereavements.-
Amiable, intelligent, and possessed with
heart far beyond her years, she was the fl
vorite of her parents and her youthful a
quaintance. Being a daughter of an tin,
rant Minister Of the gospel, who has labo
ed long and faithfully in a n~eighboring Stat
she had early learned to love the house
God, and her place was seldom vacant in t
Sabbath school. She protested religion al
joined the church, in he 18th year. A fl
weeks ago | met her, after a separation
many years. She was just budding ii
Womanhood and her thoughtful and cxpr
sive face eviHced a rapidly maturing mir
Yet the same sweet, open smile played up
her lips--the sam childlike simplicity CHI
acterized her manners AMI | thong
whilst looking upon her, that by the or;
Of God, she was destined to be one OF t
chosen few that exemplify the power a
truth of our holy religion, by a life of de
l@4llr91aeAiqal~1p%tHr~
have passed away since | saw her in lie
and happiness, moving about amongst
Youthful and loving associates-the prid
her father-the favorite Of her mother
loved one of all-aud now, on the bank
Ohio, she sleeps the sleep that knows
earthly waking, whilst bereaved fond
water her grave with bitter yet unavai
toare Rnt she toO. truStel in .Inxru