Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-24
Rural Funerals.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

The sorrow for the dead is tho onlr sorrow
from which we refuse TO be Gvor, ed Every
other wound We seek to heal, every other
offlc'ioh To forget; bit this wound we Con-
slider IT duty TO keep open; this aiiicticn
we cherish and brood over in solitude
Where is the mother who would willingly
forget the infant MAJ perisIied Ike a bios.
som from her arms, though every recollec
is parg! Where is the child that would
willingly forget the most tender of plrenis.
,h'reh to remember be hut 20 lament.
Who, even in !he hour Of "ganv. would
forget the friend over whom be nrurns -
Who. even when the tomb Is clusinr upon
the remains of her he m nst luvei--W hen he
feels.. hi, heat as were e.cruslied n thewhole
of lie porisl>-a ould accept O. consolation
that mist be bought by forgeilulncss! No.
the love which survivcs The :umb is one Q,
the noble>t attributes of the seal.
If it has its woes. il has kewise its de-
lights; Snd when the overwhelming burst OF
grief is Gained into the gentle tear of recol-
lection. wien the sudden anguish and the
convulsive agony over the present ruins o.
all that we most loved, is sotened away into
pensive meditation on all shat it YVES in the
days of its Iuveline<s, who would root out
such sorrow from The heart! Though il
may sometimes throw passing cloud over
the bright hour oi gayety. or spread deeper
sadness over the hour ol gloom, yet who
would exchange il, even for the song of
pleasure. or the burst Of reveiry!
No, there is voice from the tomb sweeter
than song. There is a remembrance of the
dead 10 which we iurn even from the charms
of the li,ing. Oh! the grave! the grave!
1t hurics every terrur. covers every defect.
exringrshes every resentment. From its
peaceful bosom spring none but fond regrets
and tender reco.iectiors. Who can lock
down even upon the grave of an eneaIv. an
rot teela con Functious thr5t, that he should
ever have warred with tie poor handful o!
earth, that lies mou.de7irg before him!
Bu, the grave Of those we ior@t, what a
place Cor mcditatiobi There il is that we
call up in long review the whole history of
rir;uc and geni'eness, and the thousand en-
dearments la,ished upon Us, almost unheed-
ed in the daily Intercourse of intimacy; there
it is that We dwe! uP"n She tenderness, the
solemn, awful tenderness Of The pa ting
scene. The bed Of death, with alt lis s;ifpd
grieis. lis noi-eless attendance, its mute.
watch.ui as~i!u'ies
Tie ,;lst tes. ;naTies o. e9pir;ngI vel the
treble, fuHering, thrilling, oh. bow thrill
ling! pressure cf the hand! The faint. f,i-
terDg &C; ents, struggling in feQih to rive
one more sesuranCe Of affection. Tie last
fond look Of lie glazi?g eve, turning uoc1
US even from tie lhre>lhold of exisience,-
Ay. gostO the grave OF buried love. and med
i.aie. There settle the accounr with ;hy
conscience for every pact benefit unrequited
every past endfarmcnt UE9cgarded, Of tqn,
departed being, who can never. never. pever
return TO be soothed by thy contr;tion,
IL thou art child, and hast ever added j
sorrow 30 the soul, or lurrow to the silyered
brow of an afeciiona:e parent: il lion ar,
husband, vnd hast ever caused tie fond
bosom that ventured lis whole happiness in
thy arms. To doubt one moment of lhv kim
ness or thy truth; if thou art friend. AND
hast ever wrtnTed, in thuught 6r wo-d o-
decd, .he sPiFit that generously corfded i,
thee; il thou srt lover, and hast eyer rive,
one III merit, d pang to that true heart v,iici.
new lies cold snd-s;iti brneath thy feet.
then be sure-thst every uukird look. every
unprscious word, every unEcntle action. viii
come ihronging back upoa thy memory. and
knock doe u!Iy at thy soul; then be sure
that thnn wilt lie down s5rrowinr and re-
pentsnt in the grave, ami utter the unhcard
groan. and pour the onavaiI;ng tear, more
deen. more bitter, because prhearl and an
availng.
Then weave thy chaplet of flowers, and
strew the bcauiies OF nature about the grave:
console thy broken spirit. if thou canst, with
these tender, yet futile tributes of regret;
but take urning by the bitterness of this
thy contrile afiiction over the dead, and
henceforth be more faithful and af!ectionate
in the discharge of thy duties to the living.