Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-09

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antly to set my foot on terra frma again, but
kept that to myself. We shot by and soor lost
sight of them In the afternoon the wind veer-
ed to the East, and as our course was about S.
E. we were close hauled, but as the sailors say
we made good board and some progress
Yours, II. II. E.
MEssRs. PUBLISHERS :-Enjoying the privil-
eye of walking the streets Of your village on
Friday last, my attention was arrested by the ap-
pearance Of an Oddfellow group, emerging from
one of your public houses Surprised as
might be to see so large procession of that
fraternity within the compass Of an isolated
Hamlet, felt no less an interest to know what
reasons could at this hour have lured them from
the secret chambers of their brotherhood
To me associations Of any kind, tending to
harmonic the public veal are so many fibrous
tendrils entwining themselves, each with the
other, around the blasted oak of human misery.
approached the youthful handful, wondering
whittier their errand tended, till my eye rested
upon objects that told too plainly of the nature
Of their trust. On the breast Of each hung the
mourning stars of sorrow, slightly relieved by
sprigs of evergreen, torn from the forest drape-
ry of the season. The truth flashed upon me.
Death had flown into their ranks and left upon
their stricken arms his raven pumes that shed
a darkness DER his painless flight. followed
their slow and mournful pace: The silent en-
bem of their late bereavement quivered in the
wintry breeze, while naught but footsteps broke
the GREATNESS silence.
How like the deep stiffness Of the forest
depths, broken only by the moaning pines, whose
shadows gathered dampness meath the orb of
night, did the scene starte thoughts that came
springing from the livery of Heaven. Twas
at no great distance that they halted, part divi-
ding themselves, equally on each side the en-
trance to neat and comfortable residence, from
which at the hands of the others emerged the
object of their grief AS the coffin was silently
borne to the bier and the procession closed in
line gathered from bystander, in brief the
history Of the deceased. The youth had grown
up in the village; his name, WILLIAM FL WooD-
BURY though called and probably known to all
as LITTLE Billy" had parents but they were
far away He had been for some years under
the charge of an uncle and aunt who now in
the depth Of their grief followed goomily their
charge to the tomb.
As the procession moved to the church, | was
struck with the number of children that hocked
from different quarters to join in the general
respect to the dead. learned that their play
mate has been Il cripple, and the thought that
they had exercised an instructive care and soil
ctude over one they loved, and who needed their
sympathy, unravecd the net that bound them.
The church was crowded with listeners to
the solemn obsequies. An aged clergyman in
trembling, pathetic tones, unfolded this startling
lesson from the mystery of Heaven. Clearly
did he lay open'the springs of life; and the buoy
ant hopes Of youth joyously CLEANED from his
| lips, while his lone finger pointed to the des-
troyer's work as another swift witness of the
irresistible destiny of man. The singing of
the choir was appropriate to the occasion what
weight of soemDity seemed to Cypress the
standing audience while the deep, melancholy
harmony shook ones spirit, darling chilling
veins of gloom through the frame. The cere-
monies closed in solemn appeal to the Great
Ruler above while many hearts bowed in SUBJ
lection to his will.
Then followed the last sight of the dead
The velvet pail, lid, and napkin had scarcely
been thrown back when the youth and children
arose and moved toward their fallen brother
AS they stood in GREATNESS silence watching
the marble form of one they once had loved,
how many eyes swimming in grief could be
seen tracing the features of this lifeless one
then looking deep into their companions eyes
to sec if twas not all dream. But no Sec
ond glances rolled tears of bitterness that
deaths icy fingers wrung from their broken
hearts, while they fell back one after another to
mourn in silence that poignant grief that claims
no solace. IT'S no vain lesson written upon the
opening volume Of the soul to see thus in child
hood the delight of our boyhood stricken by
the fangs of death; like the pure emb'ems of