The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-25

Mrs. III. Il. Stowe, who it will be re-
membered has recently buried n son, thus
writes on this subject to the ". J. Lnde.
pendent.
Walter Scott, after the death of his
wife, wrote, "What shall ] do with that
portion of my thoughts that have al
ways been in the habit of telling only to
hcr!' And after death, for many and
many weary day, the heart throbs and
aches with things unsaid-and which can
be said to no o,hcr-for each friend takes
away portion of ourselves. There was
some part of our being related to him as
to no other, and We had things to say to
him which no other would understand or
appreciate. a portion OF our thoughts
has become useless and burdensome-and
again and again, with involuntary yearn.
ING, VIC turn to the stone at the door OF
the sepulchrc. We lean against the cold,
silent marblc-but there is no answer
no voicc-nei,llcr any that rcgardcth.
There arc those who would have us
think that in our day this doomis reversed
that there are means which have
the power to restore Us the communion OF
our lost ones. How many heart, wrung
and tortured with the anguish ofthis fear
fnl silence, has throbbcd with strange,
vague hopes at the suggestion! When
we hear, sometimes, OF persons OF the
strongest and clearest minds becoming
crcdulous votarics OF certain spirituallst'c
circles, let us not wonder. five inquire,
We shall almost always find that the be-
lief has followed some stroke Of death
it is only an indication OF the desperation
Of that heart.hunger which in part it ap-
peases.
All, wes it true. were it indeed so that
the wall between the spiritual and mate
rial is growing thin, and new DISPENSE
ton terminating, in which communion
with the departed blest shall be among
the privileges and possibilities Of this our
mortal state! All, were it SO that when
we 60 forth weeping in the grey dawn,
bearing spices and odos which We long
to pour forth for the beloved dead. We
should indeed find the stone rolled away,
and an angel sitting on it !!
But for us the stone must be rolled
away by an unquestionabh angel, whose
countcnancc is as the lightning, who exc
cutcs no doubtful jugglc, by pale noon
light or starlight but rolls back the stone
in fair, open morning, and sits on it,
Then We could bless God for His mighty
Gift, and with love and awe and reverence
take up that blessed fellowship with an.
other life, and weave il revercntly and
trustingly into the web ofourdaily course.
But no such angel have we seen. No
such sublime, unqucstionable, glorious
manifestation. And when wc look nj
what is offered to us all, who that had u
friend in heaven could wish them to re-
turn in such wise as thisl Tho very in
stinct Of sacrcd sorrow seems to forbid
that our beautiful, ourglorifed ones should
stoop lower than even to the Medium OF
their cast-of bodies to jugglc, and rap,
and squeak, and perform montcbank tricks
with tables and chain, to rccitc over in
weary samencss harmless trsiisms which
We were wise enough to ssy for ourselves
to tribe, and banter, and jest, or to lead
us through endless moonshiny rnmcs-
sadly and sobcrly VIC say, that II this be
communion with the dead, We had rather
be without il. We want something lit.
tic in advance OF our present lie, and
not below il. We have read with some
attention, woary pages Of spiritual com.
munication protesting 70 come from Ba.
con, Swcdcnborg, and othcr, and long
accounts from divers spirits ofthings seen
in the spirit land, and We can conceive Of
no more appalling prospect than to have
II the future life, il 70 weary, stale, fat
and Improbable ~ we might infer from
these readings ono would have reason TO
dcplorc an immortality from which no
suicide could give an outlet To bc con-
demnod to such eternal prosing would b
wone than annihilation.