Mountain Democrat., 1857-03-21
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E.u.ai Funerals.


oH.W'u,}, y;.ihi, sorrow and mouraia.
for tnc d,a.: nature demands ii, custom
r-i~"a> IT, 1t has been truly sail, ~,
t'--r',' '.~ttt..-.-N@LA-t+epp, ~ part Of llu
n.an Ha;t,r;" and NmI.i he lot,i ;n oN,
T.; c},-. iith2y di,i not =row dim, ormy
h,;,r.. l.. il beat n"; more tru'lcrlv, whvn
Io'r";r- t. the grave thc deserted caSLc;
-''e-H-eta STRANGER spiiit.-Eut nowhere
"l val,h have hchcld such impressive
III. :,.y "t mourning, aS follows tloa;h
&0i hu!Ii ina country Village. 1t will
h,'t-Nt years next MAY ,:Hre the s.agc
coach ~at ne dawH IT the little luH, town
"F II, STATE Ci Vermont. Il was
craving towards sunset whru arrived
il tl,c i'"' l,,'&-r, ard Was th>N =
';:ad-er 10 tn' place, lUl ever ,&.cr. it
N"S been Il sHi bat >"r, and ccHtlr II; MI
- mr. ! was tod il the evening th&.
'',atli '".d lat .'U>t catered their midst,
>,ili"ga l"v,i "!d loving heart; hut
they nc'd not havc toidmI thus imWoy,ls ;
Tor, already had read it in my twiG, .ht
walk, on every face met, in each hu>hul
and .a,,Jrncd voice. in the quiet, uoiSrcSS
step: aEd. a> | passed the little church.
yard | saw the fresh earth thrown up, aud
the narrow house waiting to receive its
tenant, Again on the following morning
should have known that death or the
sacred Sabbath was lowering DER the
scene, for everything Gre that sad and
pcnsivc quivtudc which ever follows sin.
ccre rcvcrrnc" aud true devotion The
shops were closrl the blackSmith'S an.
vii rang not; the faithful OK, freed from
his yoke was grazing on the hillside or
laHi,y chewing his cud in the sun, and |
ianCicd that nature herself wore an nm.
wontcd sadness for the month of Nav,
Seated on the Inn porch few minutes
before ten o'clock, the hour Consccratcd
to the funeral ceremonies. | saw the vii.
layers wrnd their way in thoughtful 81.
lrncc to the afflicted dwelling: saw the
last paSScrS.by enter the house of death :.
gazcd at the deserted streets, and felt that
was doing injustice TO tho feelings of
others, and wronging my own better ma
turc in thus Withholding Il duty, though
sad, that found n response in every heart
aoanl me, could Nctr resist the prcmp.
tingS oi my heart, As I arrivcl at the
cate. the few persons starding about the
door entered, and followed them. Be.
meath that roof was assembled nearly cv.
cry heart Of the village, all throhhing IN
mourrtul unison sad requiem Cor the
dead. The village Pastor, whose look,
and voice, and words can never forget,
rose, and briefly rcmarking the solemn
occasion upon which wo were assembled.
knc!t, and with earnest impassionc,t
words, led our souls in close communion
with Him 'who givcth and takcth away. "
lie then read the hymn beginning "Whv
do we mourn departing friends, or shake
at deaths alarms" there was moments
silence, and neTcr can forget tho tones
that broke that silence: tho tune sung
was China; the few voices Joining, /
Judged, were of eyed persons, all sweet,
though Suhducd and trcmulouS, making
such music aS had never before thrilled
my soul. The purcSt and deepest emo.
tionS of the heart are best called forth hy
music; and there is no part of the funeral
service so touching, solemn and deeply
impressive to me, aS the mingling of sweet
toned voices in solemn song; the purity
of tho heart wells up with the swelling
notes, until we arc SoNcned and Suhducd
into the beings God designed us. The
pastor then read the l9th chapter Of 9nd
Samuel, and selected part of the esd
verse as the basis ofhiS remarks. "a shall
go to H., but he shall not return to me. =
His subject was the meeting, recognition
aud immortal enjoyment of "llindrcd Spir.
its" after death, know not towhat rar.
ticular sect of Christians tho pastor be-
longcd | only know that all his words