Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-09
TIE RECLAIMED TEEBRIATE.
A SCENE BY A MOTHERS GRAVE

In the spring of ls41, I was travelling
through the western part of the State of
New York. The weather was extremely
pleasant, and the grass had assumed its
bright emerald hue, but yet the roads were
in very bad condition, SO much so, that
it was with great difficulty that our horses
could drag the numbering coach along
Darkness came on some hours before we
reached our intended stopping place for the
night; the road grew worse the coach be-
gan suddenly to tip towards the left and
from the peculiar sound of the straining
wheels we could understand that they had
sunk into the deep mud by the roadside.
The coachmen cracked his whip, the jaded
horses gave desperate leap, and we star
ted on. There was for an instant groan-
ing, rumbling sound beneath US, the coach
was slightly raised nearer to its true posi-
ton, and just as we fondly hoped all dan
ger had passed, we were hurried from our
seats in one promiscuous, struggling mass,
and our vehicle was bottom side up in a
deep, wide ditch. Two of the lady passen-
gers were slightly bruised, but further than
that there was no one hurt and save for
the mud and water, We crawled out from
the wreck with thankful hearts.
The scene of our disaster was about
three and half miles from the small vii
lage of B, but near at hand there was
farmhouse, and having received assis-
tance from the good people there, we got
our baggage up to the house, the ladies
were accommodated with comfortable quar-.
tiers with the old farmer, and the rest Of US
set off on foot for the village. When the
driver brought our baggage up in the
morning, be told us that we should have tc
remain at the village inn another day and
night, the coach being so much damaged
that it could not be repaired before tha
time.
Nearly opposite the inn stood the village
church-a small, neat structure-and bacl
of it was the mound-dotted churchyard
enclosed by q rough ganite wall, ant
adorned here and there with the junipe
and weeping willow. Towards the middle
of the forenoon, saw the OLD sexton, will
his spade and pick upon his shoulder, pass
ing in through the gateway. He KEEP
along till he arrived at the extreme corner
of the ground, and there he began to re
move the green sods, which he cut out il
squares and laid carefully on one side, al
ter which he commenced digging grave
A strange feeling prompted me to 60 owe
and join that old man. It was not of Gu
riosity, but it was rather sympathy 70
those who mourned, and sort of reach
ing forth of my soul towards the cain
world Of the unearthed spirits. .
stood by the side of the old sextol
and for moment he leaned upon his spad,
and wiped the sweat from his bald brow
i We passed a few words such as stranger
naturally call up, but his voice was 10
i and solemn, as though he was fearful
waking those who slept around. The gra,
i was long and narrow, and at length it W;
}. finished, and the old man clambered up
!; my side.
i is it sickly hereY l asked, with
sire to bring the old man into conversatio
Look about you and see,' he returne
e cast my eyes around through the var
!, but the graves were all waving with lor
|, grass. There were none Of them new.
y Death has not been very busy with yo
said.