The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-23

Men seldom think of the great event Of
death until the shadow falls across their own
path, hiding forever from their eyes the ira
ces of the loved ones whose living smiles
were The sunlight of their existance. Death
is the great antagonist of life, and the cold
thought Of the tomb is the skeleton OF all
feasts. We do not want to pass through the
dark valley, although the passage may lead
to paradise; and, with Chas. Lamb, we do
not want to lie down in the muddy grave
even with kings and princes for bedfellows.
But the fat of nature is inexorable. There
is no appeal or relief from the great law
which dooms us all to the dust. We flour
ish and fade as the leaves of the forest and
the flower that blooms in day, has not a
Trailer hold on life than the mightiest mon
arch that ever shook the earth with his
stately steppings.' Generations Of men ap'
pear and vanish as the grass, and the count
less multitude that !hrongs the world to-day,
will tomorrow disappear as footprints on the
sandy shore.
But we shall meet again. The dead only
sleep for the resurrection of Immortality
In the beautiful drama of Ion, the instinct
of Immortality so eloquently uttered by the
death devoted Greek finds a deep response
in every thoughtful soul. When about to
yield up his young existence as a sacrifice to
| fate, his beloved Clemanthe asks if they
"shall not meet again." to which he replies :
81 have asked that dreadful question of
the hills that look eternal; Of the flowing
streams that flow forever OF the stars among
whose fields of azure my raised spirit hath
walked to glory-and all were dumb. But
while gaze upon thy living face, feel there's
something in the love that mantles through
its beauty that cannot wholly perish. We
shall meet again, Clemanthc !"
The earth is filled with "learned dust
Greatness and gentleness sleep toghlher.-
The cherubfaced babe and the intirm old
man 90 down side by side. All of us have
friends and kindred gone to the grave.
There Is an interest in the dying words of
men that does not attach to them while liv-
ing. They often give clue to the whole
history of the man. They still oftener give
significant intimation as the state in which
the departed expired. We append the last
words of few of the great ones who have
come, and all but few blazed as glaring
metcors and now are gone forever. Besides
the literary curiosity they carry with them,
we opine they are of no little value other
wise:
"Head of the army" Napoleon.
81 must sleep now" Byron
''It matters little how the dead lieth. =
Sir Walter Raleigh.
"Kiss me, Hardy" Lord Nelson.
"Don't give up the ship" Lawrence.
"rm shot if don't believe I'm dyng."-
Charles Thurlow.
SIS this your fidelityl" Nero.
"Clasp my hands, my dear friend, die."-
Alfieri.
"Give Dayrocles chair" Lord Ches-
terfeld.
"God preserve the Emperor" Hayden.
"Let the light enter" Goethe.
"All my possessions for moment of time"
Queen Elizabeth.
"What? is there no bribirg death p
Cardinal Beaufort.
II love God, my father and liberty
Madam de Stael.
"De serious" Grotos. 4
'Into thy hands, Q Lord" Tasso.
''lt is small, very small indeed, (clasping
her neck) Anne Boleyn.
81 pray you see me safe up, and as for my
coming down, let me shift for my self (as-
cending the scatfold.) Sir Thomas Moore.
"Don't let that awkward squad fire over
my grave" r. Burns.
ii feel as if | were myself again." Wal
ter Scott.
81 resign myself to God, and my daughter
to my country" Jefferson.
1T is WELL" Washington.
"It is the last of earth | am CONTENT
Adams.
"There is not drop Of blood in my veins" !"
Frederick V.
"a dying man can do nothing" Frank
lin.
''Let not poor Nelly starve." Charles V.
Refresh me with a great thought. t."-I
Herden.
81 feel the daises growing over me."-I
Keats.
LET me die to the sounds of delicious
music" Mirabeau.
81 still live" Daniel Webster.
TIE PIsToL.---An Irishman, driven to des-
peration by the stringency Of the money
market, and the high price Of provisions,
procured pistol and took to the road.
Meeting traveller he stopped him WITH
"Y Your money or your life y
Seeing that Pat WAS green, he s4A-
"I'll give you all my money for that piytsl."
"Agreed."
Pat received the money and handed over
the pistol.
"Now," said the traveller, "hand back
that money, or I'll blow your brains outw
'.Blizzard away, me hearty" said Pat,
"divil the dhrop Of powther, there's in it.,