Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-01-15

E5.Therc is something peculiarly
mournful in the death Of the young
When we see aged persons who nave
attained the iullv allotted period e hu
man existeuce, DEPART from the earth,
although we deeply mourn tile loss, and
would gladly avert the fate which bears
them from the stage of living NATURE
yet our emotions are far different from
those which thrI'i us, when the young,
the lovely and the beautiful die. When
the aged 90 hence and are no more, we
feel that i, is all according to the ordi.
nation Of God, and that they have pass
ed through all the rounds OF lie, and
reached that extreme period when we
are taught that all must die. They
have passed the buoyancy Of childhood
the anmS Sion Of youth, the solidiiy o,
ma,u'ed years, and the reflection Of age;
they have seen lic in all lis phases, they
have tasted alike of the pleasures and
sorrows of earth, and they have learned
that humanity has no exemptions from
the curse imposed upon original sin,--
aud they are satisfied that the eternal
soul mus, rcpose its hope upon Power
above and beyond earth. They have,
in measure, become wcaned from all
tha, surrounds them here, and have
learned by experience to look upwards
q God. Time, while il has shadowcd
their brows and iurrowcd their cheeks,
has also taught them the folly of earthly
dependencies, and they have gradually
learned to transicr their affections from
earth to heaven. They have reposed
confidence here they have builded
hopes upon earthly foundations, and
they have seen the one betrayed and the
other demolished so often, that wise
experience has taught them that earth
| has no treasure which time will not des-
troy, and humanity no pleasure which
death will rot blight. Therefore, there
/ Is philosophy in age, there is wisdom in
years, there is valuable lesson in long
expcritncc which impnrt knowledge
I to all, and teach US to regard the death
of the aged us something which must
I be.
Blu, ah it is different when the ySung
die. It is hard. it is indeed hard TO
stand by the death-bcd Of fair young
creature just maturing into lovely wo-
manhood. There is something in the
scene which pa'slcs the heart and un-
nerves the sternest manhood. 1t starts
tears from eyes unused 10 weep. and 1t
\ unIocks the spring Of deepest feeling
i which has never yet emitted so coplous
yush IA is avishcd on such an occa-
sion. We see young lady, animated
| by all which is attractive 10 her in the
world, whose heart is light and whose
hopes are buoyant and bright, who is
f. just emerging upon that stage which is
/ arrayed with all which is Gazzing and
fascinating, surr ounded by all which is
enchanting and leautiiuI who knows
aud feels no guile, aud consequently
I sees NJ evil in others, who looks upon
|. life lis a Kaleidoscope OF con nuing beau
ties, feels no pain because she
| knows no evil and inillcts no wrong,
whose heart is all goodness, whose ac-
/, tons are all pure, and whose thoughts
1 are all gentlr,-oh, 10 see such an one
| transferred from the joyousness Of health
nd the gayety Of active lic, 10 the suf
! fering oi violent sickness and the sol
emnry Of the bed of dcath,-is enough
! to unmove the sterncst heart, and 10 ar
rest the attention Of the most enthusias-
TIC dcvotcc of pleasure. But after all,
such scene is profitable, for here we
II learn lies severeSt and most salutary
lesson. Here we actually behold the
/ great uncertainty Of life; the practical
| lessons which the Bible teaches, and
! not the theoretical doctrines which are
! preached the imperative warning OF
the real angel of death, and not tho oft.
/ repeated counsel Of the holy ministers Of
/ Christ Here all Is real, and no. meta
Z phorical. lIyre God speaks lorcibly to
us hy Ills act. Here lie is dsrobcd Of
It's folly, and death appears to us in all
( its stern and unyelJing solemnity, warn
ing the young especially. that life is,sus-
pended 10y prccarious thread, and that
there 10 but step from the gorgeous
!, display of earth. to the dark, the silent,
the lnpencirable grave. Here we wi.
/ me-. tho vanity and fceblcnees. Of all