The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-06-10

THE BABY rs DEAD.

| A long, black scarf, trimmed with
broad white ribbon, hangs upon the door
knob. A death-like stiffness pervades
the whole mansion; all within moving
with the softest tread, and speaking in
the softest whispers, as if fearful OF dis
turbing the repose Of some loved One.--
Those passing along the street observe
the sombre scarf, and the instant change
in the countenance betrays the thought
I" the baby is dead" Yes the baby is
dead, and not only those who have been
familiar with its sparkling eyes, but the
stranger who received the intelligence
from the scarf on the door, feels that
home has been robbed of precious idol
How deep was the love that had cluster
ed around the innocent babe, and on (!
how terrible is the blow its death inflicts.
The baby is dead Itno longer clings
in innocent love to its mothers bosom,
or stirs with fondest joy its fathers heart.
Its prattlng has ceased forever, and its
once laughing eyes are closed in eternal
sleep. But even in death it seems to-
have lost none of its sweetness. 1t liss
/ calmly in its silk-cushioned coffin, prepar-
ed with so much care it has been array
ed in its costliest garments, its pure brow
trimmed with fragrant wreath, and
flowers have been scattered over its love-
ly form. AS it is thus arrayed the babe
seems only to be sleeping; but, alas ! it
it that sleep which hath no waking.
4 The baby is dead! Around it are
gathered many whose sympathies it has
aroused, and whose love it has excited
The minister leans over the cold form,
and touched with the sight, tears trickle
down his cheeks, while he exclaims -
"Thus saith the Lord, suffer little chill
dren to come unto me and forbid them
not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven"
The baby is dead 1t is about to bo
shut forever from the sight of those who
loved it as no others could. Oh! how
the mother clings to the lifeless form, as
she imprints the last fervent kiss upon its
cold cheek, how her very heartstrings
seem to break. And the father, though
he has manfully braved tolls, cares, and
dangers, now feels unnamed, and weeps
like a child as he bends over the corpse
of the lost one. Sympathy, at other
times consoling, is now of no avail, and
the hearts of both suffer the deepest an
guish.
| The baby is dead! The tears have
wet its grave, and crushed hopes lie bu-
ried with it. Though its mortal existence
may have been brief, it's death has DESC
lated a Joyous home. Sweet babe! Ora
tors may announce q nations loss in
death of patriots great and true. and poets
sing in touching strains of the memory of
the dead who have accomplished mighty
things-none but angels Of heavenly birth
will record the life, so pure and beauti-
| full, SO early lost.
| Editorial Lite.-There is so much Of
truth in the following, from the pen OF
| Captain Marayatt, that we must be al
lowed to quote it, But few readers ever
think of the labor and care devolving
upon an editor, one who justly feels bis
responsibility. Capt. Marayatt says:
i :" 1 know periodical will wear down
ones existence. In itself it appears
nothing nor is it in the labor, it is the
continual attention it requires. Your life
becomes, as it were, the publication
One days paper is no sooner corrected
and printed, than on comes another. 1t
is the stone of Sisyphus. an endless
repetition of toll a constant weightupon
the intellect and spirits, demanding all
| the exertion of your faculties, at tho
same time that you are compelled to the
severest drudgery. To write for pa
per is very we'll, but to edit one is to
condemn yourself to slavery.
The Passions--The passions are at
once tempters and chastisers. As temp
ters they come with garlands Of flowers
, on brows of youth; as chastisers, they
appear with wreaths Of snakes on the
forehead Of deformity. They are angels
t of light in their delusions they are fiends
: of torment in their infections; they mis-
0 lead only to recriminate; they fiatter
: that they may deride; they show us
q a false glory but to mock us; they raise
!, in us cloud-capped pinnacle, to dash us
+ fercely to the stony ground. Like the
q daughters of Lear, they first beguile their
: victims of his sovereignty and power;
! and when their dupe is enfeebled and de-
!, pendent, robbed of every friendly sup
4 port, of every pleasant companion, a beg
! gar in consolation and hope, they east
: him out upon the desert to the darkness
of the night, and the fury Of thetempest.
Giles.
Mr.. Hill married Miss Hill, the other
! day. A cotemporary remarks that " the
!. valley between them was removed, and
: they were made one Hill.