Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-02-10
"When 1 am Dned.N

In the dim crypts OF the heart where des-
pair abideth, these words seem written A
strange meaning solemn intimation unfolds
itself in the utterance. Four simple mono
syllables--how much Of gloom ye convey how
ye speak in funeral tones OF the extinguish-
ment Of earthly hopes-of the spirit that has
struggled in vain. and is painfully quiet now
"When | am dead" is uttered calmly );
but what calm such as the tornado leaves
when scllence broods over desolation. The
voice pronouncing that despairing phrase, has
not all its mournfuness from itself--The lis
tening ear hears something more; for from
those words tie gioan of high aspirations
quenched, and pale and bleeding upon the
sharp rocks Of adversely, come up phantom
like. amid the ghastly scenes of the buried
past.
Otter, like the pealing bell that tolls the body
of the departed to its final rest The last
word dead" fingers strangely, and echoes
sadly in the ear, and through the portals OF
the sympathi~ing soul Dead-dcad- dead
and the world grows grey. and the heart
stills, and the eye moislens 10 that mysteri-
GUS sound.
The spirit trembles before the rushing food
Of conflicting emotions which follow the dark
echo, and essays to glance through its imports
But the echo fades amid encircling mist, and
the spirit turns back confused with blindness
Even the echo Of Death cannot be penetra
ted. The few feet Of mould that compose the
Igrave, are wider than the gobe-higher than
tile strs. Not the minds eye, nor the anx
ious soul can glance through the barrier-tht
boundry, between Time and Eternity.
"When am dead!" More or less signif
icance. resignation or Respondent wo. fulfil
ment, Of nature or a perversion of its end may
these wor ds express, though sad they are a
best.
When tho aged man. whose steps hov,
grown feeble in the walks of goodness, anc
whose hand trembes with the fruit of his oft
given charity, utters those words, they fal
from his lips as prayer to Heaven.-In then
his will harmonizes with bis destiny; and th,
tear that starts for n superior soul about C
leave its clay, glistens in the light of happi
ness that CLEANS out of the heart at the pros
pec,ive reward Of the future.
The lips, too, that mover pressed the rim o
the front of Natures Poesy, may murmur
When am dead" but death to such al
one is better, perhaps, than life. His hear
holds no MUSIC. Ginning in cadencea TO wea
We; his inward existence is void; not bright
ened by stray halt-thoughts, darkens but lit
lie by the panoply Of the tomb.
How different when youth, glowing wit
beauty OF soul and heart, rich with the treas
ures OF mind, and warm with s, ,mpathy for a
of lovliness, sIghs. like the South wind, "Whe
am dead!" A spirit seems |" wall its en-
| han, 81, II
fall upon the fair picture Of high natur
checked in its pu pose--turned from its du
Get waves upon coral reef againsI the rocl
of destructive shore.
"When am dead!" " 1t is mournful E
the plant OF ghos, on the tempest and nit
night wind. But we must all say it SOM
time; for the grave lies al hand, concealed
perhaps, in purple heaps of bloom-yawnlr
p rhaps through a he'd Of thorns. Or gleanin
= like white avenue of hope leaning again
the stars
st when am deadl" Strange and fea
Ut ful import hath ii to the utterer, but it is
RS week pharse only unto others,-the gre
world. Who speaks il may think the sing
as going forth of soul will move many atoms
is the Universe; but it will move none, all "
Z. be rs before.
"A When hr and you and we, gentle reade
d, are folded in our shrnuds, friends dearest al
ID those hn loved us best. will dry their tea
,e ere they have well begun to fow.-The hea
ht that beats with rapture against our own wi
to freeze above our memory in a brief time
St briefer than woman's trust or mans period
ne goodness.
,g But il is well thus, It's the worlds custo
il and Natures law. We weep rot for Il
ad dead. but while they die. We shall soon
with them; ard it may be good we 30 ear
V" 10 their narrow homes.
To JUHIUs.