The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-04
THERE'S SADNESS IN THE MIRTH To-
s8T 5e4aer1 MIGHT.

, aDRARs WREATH r. 49, -
; = DTwere vain that I should attempt 70 portray
to you the radient beauties of this Fright De
eember Morn. The green old earth has yielded
UP her treasure of Fruit and Flowers, and a
mantle of spotless purity rests serenely upon her
bosom. Every tree and shrub, leafess though
they be, are dancing and sparkling in the mer-
~ sunshine, each adorned with myriaas of
Jewels, brighter than ever graced a monarch s
brow. Dense Wreaths of smoke are floating
slowly upward, forming as if for their own
amusement, all sorts of fantastic imagery, well
defined outlines of arches, domes, and pillars,
now toying a moment in mid air to view the
frest gems, then curling lightly aloft, asst they
asaia would seek a resting place amid the clouds
above. How striking an illustration of human
lifei Dear reader, leave the fast fleeing glo-
. rles Of the morning, and come with me to the
r FESTIVE Hall to night. Cast your eye over the
bright faces assembled here, and tell me, does
not the tear rise unbidden to the eye-lid and
: the hip refuse to speak, when you essay to ask
for him who stood among us one year ago to-
night, in all the vigdf of his early manhood,
smiling joyously on a lovely sister by his side,
and others also, who perchance were dearer
than all the world besides. Oh /! the spring
flowers have blossomed and withered over his
early grave, and he sleeps in the church yard,
cold and still, but not alone,-no, not alone.
Another dear, faithful old friend was with us,
walking eomplaeently down the hillside of life,
ever first and foremost in every good word and
work, ever hopeful, ever cheerful, and ever
ready for the watchword which came, alas too
soon for us, for gently
eAs dies the wave along the shore,
: = orsinks the gale when storms are o'er,"f
re slept his life away, and went to his reward
among the, blest. Another manly form, buoy
ant With hope and health, prospects for the flu
ture unusually bright beaming over his pathway,
with a young and trusting bride leaning so
securely upon the chosen ene-he too, 'has
fallen by the wayside" and is numbered with
the silent dead. But, you ask, where is the
maiden around whose transparent brow clustered
a halo such of thought underlined, such beauty,
simplicity and meekness, as bespeaks a soul
regenerated, and fitted for the company of An
igels, and just mem made perfect? HDeath
awful precision aimed the arrow that laid her
young head forever in the dust.
Look once more, and we leave the contem-
-plation of this sad picture. Do you see the
Brother and Sister whose joyous presence yield
ed an e~ver-howing fountain of happiness and
peace to all who know them-whose lives have
fitted across our pathway as the beauteous rain
bow Or the fash of the meteor on the soft twi-
light sky. You do not see them-Eo, they are
not here. Must 1 tell you, they too arc gath
( cred home to rest? The brother dropped and
; withered with the first flowers of Autumn
the Sister survived only for a little to bless the
znlemory 0 ftbe loved and lost one. In vain did
relations and friends cling to her with all the
sferyor Of earth's best affections-in vain did the
lip of lisping infancy plead for a few short
years OF love and protection-faithfuI to her oft
repeated prediction-she soon Joined her Ia
mented Brother at the portals OF immortality
-but, -
with us theiF names will live
-af Through long succeeding years,
d Embslmed with all our hearts can give
Opr praises and our tears" IL
A. T.