Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-06-08
DREAMS OF THE DEPARTED.

lIl
sky, are the beautiful dreams that gem the
hours of our unconscious .repose. Then there
are forms that come unto us in the likeness of
through which shine the rays of a
divine light and their presence imparts plea
sure unmixed with awe-for the horror that
to some minds seems inseparate from ghostly
visions when ina gined in our waking hours,
gives place to more spiritual appreciation OF
those reverend shades that perchance, at times,
still hover on the confines of their earthly la
bernace.
Aud what wonderful inhabitant do we hold,
housed up in our frail bodies i! When sleep
cometh to our pillow and with drowsy breath
lulls us to foreetlulness of sense, how then does
the divine being within weave Of gentle memo
res of ladder of roses and gold and lifting u to
heaven, wait, listening, TO hear the descending
-E.-.r~4l- ~f ~fs>,,ssels----.----
And they come years may have graftedthe sad
mislletoe, born oftears, upon the branches ofonF
Young, fresh hope, and turned all the leaves 10
an autumn decay but at ie.totch of the angel
fingers, blossoms shade the parasite, the cluster
ing leaves grow bright with health, and under
it's shadow sport the lambs OF the flock, beautiful
with the garlands OF the heavenly pasture, twin
ed by the great Shepherd OF little children. The
young the good, the lovely, gather aboutusj our
selves are dead to the outward, but we see them,
bless them, and by them are blest. The cnddlIng
babe, whom we thought locked too securely in
the treasury Of our love for death 10 covet, but
who nevertheless took sefaph wings just as II
had learned to fold its little arms about our necks
sits once againn its olden place. and leans once
more it's dear head against the mothers bosom
And in its eyes is heavens own unfading light
on its brow the seals of heavens covenant, and
its whole presence is like a ray from the throne
of God penetrating the soul The pallor OF death
the shroud, the gaping earth and swelling sod,
with its white head stone upon which some cher
shed name is sculptnred, are not remembered
then; il is with US again; The tendrils of our
hearts lay no longer damp and uncnrled; with
their old beauty they gather up and close around
the object of our updyiug love.
Il NAV have been that before we sought oui
rest, we leaned once and again above the old arm
chair, where of late, with the seal of holy age
making her venerable brow almost luminous, a
mothersat. You cannot feel the pressure OF hei
wrinkled hand upon Your own, you sigh for the
approving smile that beamed on your last birtt
day; it has gone forever. No, not forever; to'
in the hour when veiled night, with her coronet o.
stars, moves over the shadowy world, there she
stands beside you the eye brighter, the brow fair
er, the step lighter, the sweet words as sweet as
ever: and when you wakeu, is there not a light
er feeling atthe heart, as ifyou had been hold
ing converse with one of fheaven's saints
we have dreamed of the departed often. bu
thew seldom seemed TO us as when in life; they
have come with towering forms and smiles
whose expression WIS almost oVerpoweTlnf
with beauty they have been clothed with the
unearthly spiendors of heaven, a solemn swee
majesty in Their men, that awed while it rePress
ed not the spirit.
tits sweet solace, as we stand over The colt
forms of Ioyeliness, 10 dwell tnimaginatlonu upol
that meeting in the spirit world where all broker
ties shall be joined again together; and amos
as sweet is the anticipation ofa glorious reunion
In The unreal life OF dteamland. For though up
real. we act, think, and speak; feel all the emo
tions of delfghtthat thrill the bosom after
long separation drink in The sadso wonderful
stories that the dear lips tell unto US ask ques
tions Of the most momentons import; talk ofth
sbsent. sinanire concerning them; perhaps pres!
| The soft locks from The brow, or imprint kissei
| there; and when,we waken, the whole interview
is stamped in glowing coors upon the mind e ey
and we are almost as grateful for this pleasing
shadow, as ii it we're indeed reality.
. Bury tile dead from light )" aye. bury them
deep, down, dig their damp graves; launch then
off where ocean rolls full hundreds Of tatfoms
| snf where no sounding lead can reach the awiu
depth lay their bones to bleach uponthe tales
licliif thai reaches towards heaven even thel
ithey are not buried from sight from the inne
sight because there are Nc. .tcnbs in he heart
and the image once amped there, never fades
! often. often they win come back laden with sol
memories. and touching the sprung that reyerbe
rates 10 The music of olden lines, shed over on
/ dreams the light 9f rapture that haloes the en-
/ trance gates Of. heaven Cltte Bratcis.
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