The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-05-26

Every one knows the soul subduing pa
thos of the funeral service; for who is so
fortunate as never to have followed some
one he has loved to the tomb? but when
| performed over the remains of innocence
and beauty, thus laid low in the bloom of
existence what can be moro affecting?
AT that simple, bnt most solemn consign-
ment of the body to the grave-'Earth to
earth-ashes to ashes--duSt 20 dustn the
tears Of the youthful companions of the
! deceased flowed unrestrained. The faith
er still seemed to struggle with his feel
| ings, and to comfort himself with the as
surance, that the dead are blessed which
die in the Lord; but the mother only
thought of her child as Il flower of the
field, cut down and withered in the midst
Of its sweetness; she was like Rachel
mourning over her children, and would
not be comfortcd."
| On returning to the inn, | learnt the
whole story of the deceased. 1t was
simple one, and as such has often been
told. She had been the beauty and pride
of the village. Her father hal been an
rplent farmer, but was reduced in cream
slanccs. This was an only child, and
bronyht up entirely at home, in the sim
plcity of rural life She had been the
pupil of the village pastor, the favorite
lamb of bis little flock. The good man
watched over her education with paternal
|care; it was limited, and suitable to the
| sphere inwhich she was to move;tor he only
sought to make her an ornament to her
station of life, not to raise her above it.
The tenderness and indulgence of her pa
rents, and the exemption from all ordina-
| ry occupations, had fostered natural
grace and deIicacy of character that ac-
corded with the fragile loveliness of her
form. She appeared Ike some tender
plant of the garden, blooming accidental
ly amid the harder natives of the fields.
| The superiority of her charms was felt
and acknowledged by her companions,
but without envy; for it was surpassed by
The unassuming gentleneSs and winning
kindness of her manners. 1t might be
truly said of her
| This is the prettiest low-born lass, that ever
Ran on the greensward: nothing she does or
! seems
But smacks of something greater than herself
Too noble for this place. ..a--..
The village was one of those sequester-
ed spots, which still retains some vestiges
of old English customs. 1t had its rural
festiyity aud holiday paslmes and still
kept up some faint observance of the
once popular rites of May. These, indeed
I had been promoted by it's present pastor;
who was a lover of old customs, and one
of those simple christians that think their
mission fulfilled by promoting JOY on earth
and good will among mankind. Under
his auspices the May-pole stood from year
TO year in the centre Of the village green;
on May-daysit was decorated with gar.
lands and Streamers; and qneen or lady
OF the May was appointed as in former
times, to preside at the sports, and dis
tribute the prizes aud rewards The pic.
turesque situation of the village and the
tanclfulness ofits rustic fetes, would often
attract the notice of casual visitors. -
!, Among these, on one May-da was
l young oilicer. whose regiment had beer
r recently CHARTERED in the neighborhood
/ lie was charmed with the native taste tba,
! pervaded this village pageant; but above
e all, with the dawning loveliness of t',e
D queen OF May. 1t was the village favor
, lite, who Was Crowned with flowers, an6
3 hlushlng anG smiling in all beautiful con
3 tnslon OF girlish dilidence and delight
/ The artlessness of rural habits enabled
i him readily 10 make her acquaintance; he
: gradually woa his way into her intimacy
and paid court to her in that unthinkine
, way in which youlg officers are too apt
: 10 tr'iie with rustic simplicity.
! There was nothing in his advances tc
startle or alarm. He never even talked
OF ioye,Q but there are modes of making it
more eloquent than language and which
convey 1t subtily and irresistibly to the
heart. The beam of the eye, the tone Of
Inc voice, the thousand tendernesses which
emanate from every word, and look, and
actlon--these form the true eoquence o
love, and can always be felt and under.
stood, but never described. Can we won.
der that they should readily win heart
young, guileless, and susceptible ?S%.s to
her, she loved almost unconciot. !; she
scarcely inquired what was the growing
E passion that was absorbing every thought
and feeling. or what were to be It's con.
sequences. She, indeed, looked not to
the fature When present, his. looks
and words occupied her whole attention:
when absent she thought but of what
bad passed at their recent Interview =
She wonld wander with hm through
the green lanes aud .nral scenes OF tn
gienitE He taaghs her % sea neg
heauties in n9rHr"; 10 falssd in '.5a r.
guaGe NJ POI" - oaa.-s-ca ..a.z Rad
.DreaJhed into Ne; aar .he wteheue, p.
romance and poetry.
Perhaps there could mot have ben a
! passion, between the sexes, more pare
than this innocent girls. The gallant
figure of her youthful admirer, and the
.splendor of his military attire, might at
first have charmed her eye; but it was
| not these that had caufiyated her heart