Smyrna times., 1857-08-05
GRAVE OF Mrs. OsGOoD, "THE CORIyYE OF
AND THOSE OF HER LITTLE FAMILY.
SoGIy bo ell

AMERICA, AND THOSE OF HER LITTLE AAILY.
Softly the summer dews did fall.
The moon, sweet recent of the sky,
Slvers the glade where she is laid.
And many an oak that grows hereby
Mount Auburn, distant about five miles from
Boston; is, as you are aware, city of silence,
and its eig hit thousand inhabilunts are all locked
in the long and dreamless slumbers of the grave,
awaiting the moment of the great awakening
beneath the cool shadow of trees, amidst the
beauty OF thousand attractive flower gardens,
which are scattered over It's extended surface.
Choice led me to that part of the grounds
where repose the remains of the most accom-
pished and graceful POetess OF America, Fran
ces Sargent Osgood, and her Sthree daughters,
constituting her whole family. As you enter
the front gate and walk up Central Avenue a
turn to the right leads you through Cypress
Avenue to Walnut, at the foot of Mount Auburn
itself; ascending the Mount, another turn to
the right leads you into Orange Path, and you
descend into quiet dell of great beauty, shadcd
by tall forest trees and surrounded on all sides
by woodland scenery, and enlivened by the mu-
slca notes of singing birds. To ell lovers OF
natural scenery II ls Il most attractive and lovely
spot. A lot ofthe usual size, fenced with longl-
tudinal burs of iron, and adorned with a costly
marble monument surnounted with harp with
broken strings now meets the eye; the mOnu.
mental inscription simply records the names
births, deaths, &c, of the little family that are
pillowed beneath the four grassy mounds on
the westerly side ofthe enclosure. The greves
are arranged according to age. Mrs. Osgood
herself reposes in the southern grave, next MIR
Charles Locks lot cher brother.) 1t was hei
own wish to be placed as near as possible TO The
side of her mother, who is buried there. Mex
to Mrs. o. sleeps daughther,. Ellen, 10, May
III years, and the little mound encloses the re-
mains OF the babe.
May it was thought had inherited the bril-
liant and graceful imagination of her mother
and had, by her precocity of intellect raised
high expectations IN the minds OF her friends o
future eminence.
1t was a balmy and breezy July afternooI
: when visited the place; the sweet spring anC
summer had been there to weave their hanging
of green tapestry arosnd those little mounds
and as | stood by the broken harp reflected oil
the admiration with which Mrs. Osgood's work
were regarded by the public; and also though
, that a deeper feeling was due her. feeling o
gratitude for the rich mines of tanciful though
that breathe through her published works, an
, for the beautiful moral lessons which they con
yey, and also for the skill with which she ha
opened the gates of beauty for the benefit q
the world, her own definition of Poetry beini
the best extant: That it is the rhythmeticu
creation OF beauty" The place Of her inter
ment is extremely appropriate beneath th
: shade of an army of tall forrest trees:
: Dearly che loved their arching spread,
Their music wild and sweet,
. Aud, as she wished on her death bed
! Was buried at their feet.
d Mrs. Osgood died, as you recollect, in Mal
!. 1850 as the first summer rose was opening
v Ellen and May followed soon; the babe die
i previously.