Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-10-02
miscellaneous.


~ VI "A hNSb w hSOtCs
The grave is the ordinal of true affec-
ton. 1t is there the divine passion of
the soul manifests its superiority to the
instructive impulses of mere animal at
tachment. The latter must be eontinu-
ally refreshed and kept alive by the pre-
sence of the object, but the love that is
seated on the soul can live ON long re-
membrancc. The mere inclinations of
sense, languishing and declining with the
charms that excite them, turn with shud-
dering and disgust from the precinct of
the tomb; but it is thence that true spi-
ritual affection rises, purified from every
sensual desire, and turns like a holy
fame to illuminate and sanctify the heart
of the survivor.
The sorrow for the dead is the only
sorrow from which VIC refuse to be reliev-
ed. Every othor wound we seek to heal
every other affection to forget; but
this wound we think it duty to keer
open-this affection we cherish and brood
over in solitude. Where is the mother
who would willingly forget the infant
that persisted like blossom from her arm
though every recollection is pang p
Where is the daughter who would forget
the most tender of parents, though the
thought is but to lament? Who, ever
in the hour Of agony, would forget the
friend over whom he mourns? Who,
when the tomb is closing upon the re.
mains of her he most loyed-when he
feels his heart, as it were, crushed in tho
closing Of its portal would accept con
ISOLATION that must be brought by forget.
/ fulncss? No; the love which survive.
( the tomb is one Of the most noble attri
/ butes Of the soul If it has its woes i
has also lis delights and when the over
whelming burst Of grief is GAINED int,
the gentle tear Of recollection-when tn,
sudden and convulsiye agony is over
/ the present ruin Of all that is most lovot
/ is soitcned away into pcusiye meditation
on all that it was in the days Of its love
illness. Who would root out such sor
row from the heart? Though it ma,
sometimes throwa passing cloud over Tho
bright hour Of gaicty or spread a deeper
sadness over the dark hour of gloom, ye
who would exchange it for the song o
/ pleasure or the burst of revcly? No
there is a voice from the tomb swectei
than song.
There is a remembrance Of the dead tc
which we turn even from the charms Of
the living. Oh, the crave tho grave
1t buries every orror-covcrs every de-
fect-cXtnguishes every resentment -
From its peaceful bosom springs none bat
fond regret and tender recollection! WHO
can look upon the grave even Of an enc
my, and not feel compunctiyc throb
that he had ever warrcI against the poor
handful Of dust that lies Wondering be-
fore him?
But the grave Of those we loved what
n place Of meditation! There it is that
we call up in long review the whole his
tory Of virtue and happiness, aud The
thousand endearmonts ayished upon us
almost UNDECIDED in the daily intercourse
Of intimacy; the tenderness Of the part
ing sccnc-the bed Of death with all its
stihed griels, its noiseless attendance, It's
watchful assidutics-th last testimonials
Of loyc-the feeble huttering, thrilling
oh, how thrilling !-prcsourc Of the
hand--thc faint, fnltering accents, strug-
Cling in death to give one more assurance
Of affection!
Aye, 90 to the grave Of buried love.
and mediate! There settle the account
with thy conscience for every past benefit
unrequitod, Of every past endcarment un-
regarded, Of that departed being who can
never, never return to be soothcd by thy
contrtion
If thou art Child, and hast ever adj
ded a sorrow to the soul or furrow 10
the silver brow Of m aGectionate parent
If thou art husband, and hast ever
caused the fond bosom that has centred
its whole happiness in thy arms, to doubt
a moment Of thy kindness and truth--if
thou ar. friend, who has ever wronged,
10 thought, word or deed, the spirit that