The hydraulic press., 1860-06-02
A SthENT FUNERAL.


On one of those pleasant intervals, so com.
mon along the banks of the Kennebec, stands
an old fashioned farm house, which has beeh
handed down through two or three genefA.
tions until its sides, that were once light
| red, are now like scattering spots Of brick
| dust the clapboards against tho base have
been banked against, so many falls, to Keep
out the cold under-currents, they have nearly
returned to dust. Here and there are few
heart grained edges ciinging to the rusty
halls. In this mouidering mansion, one
moonlight eve in September, death, in his
eternal march, entered and plucket little
Pitpat flor by this name she was called-a
plump, chubby babe, that Had been left
uotherless FIVE months previous, before the
light of two days sun had shone upon her
cherry face. Her kind old grandmother
whose only buoyant remembrance tf hef
daughter was in fondling and nursing little
Pitpat-seemed to choke with grief as she
held the gasping child in her lap, watching
the quick, but fainter and fainter pdfsationS,
until no throb was perceivable. A group
stood around, motionless, like SO many
statues, witnessing the struggle between life
ard death while the struggle in their own
breasts, between emotion and se1f-control,
corresponded with that in the babe: its death
slowly, but surely, conquered life in the
child, so emotion in their hearts, overpUw-
cred their efforts, and burst forth like d
mighty torrent, when grandmother handed
lifeless Pitpat to one of the neighbors, ex-
claiming, "she's gone p After they had
given vent to their stiaed feelings, the pale
round form was dressed IN its little Clothes;
for the last time, and laid, with her tiny
hands locked across her breast, upon the
parlor table beneath shrouded mirror
Here it remained through tho fight, while
two sturdy fellows stood watch-not so
much over the little corse, as over q bounti-
full lunch in the next room, consisting OF
r1ince pies, apples, cider, &c. As the dim
morn light entered, It beheld the cold;
chubby face unchanged; while, on the table
in the next room, the night, or rather the
watchers; had worked great change
dry pitcher, empty plates, fruit tray half
full of cores, wormy bits and parings: Thg
family; as usual, rose early, and began to
make preparations fo;r the fuhieral: The foofs
were polished white, by the friction Of soap
and sand massive quilts Of many eofofs
were spread on the beds; rag rugs wets
brushed and turned over; the tall clock was
transformed Tito ghost; mirrors were
shrouded and white curtains put up. Tho
little coffin arrived, and little Pitpat was
snugly placed in it. A kind Ia ~ brought d
bunch Of fresh roses and placed them around
the calm brow, while two white ones kissed
her marble cheeks, wasting and exchanging
their fragrance across her innocent face. Id
this condition it was replaced on the table,
to await the appointed h6df: As the tiuis
drew nigh, Tie neighbors came in; the roorns
were soon filled, and so remained fof long
hour, in silence. No minister was there ID
enlarge upon the future or whisper hope to
the berea9ed relatives, btft all were left I'd
mediate in silehce. At last; the ghostlt
clad clock in the corner announced that The
solemn hour had passed. A friend spoke
with trembling v5ice that "all who wished
could now have an opportunity Of taking
last farewell look of the corse." few
friends bid adieu with sighs. GRANDMOTHER
advanced with tottering step and tasted df
those lips, which for FIVE short months shS
had delighted to hold the nursing-bottle ID:
"Oh if was sure" she said; THAT your
spirit is in the embraces Of your mother; I
could freely give you up" This struck the
mournful group, like an electric SHOCK; and
they seemed to wonder why such a doubt
was left, but so it Is; and sd 1t MUST tenain
until we throw off this nufdane gafb and
be born anew In that land Of glee ahd hap
piness reserved for those who practice Gods
laws and live up to the dictates Of their con-
science. The lid was closed, aid the solemn
procession moved along. fhe aft was stillI
the row Of willows, opposits the house,
drooped their slerdet boagHs; ths farm
fowls stretched theft decks i'd establishment :
the fruit trees bowed tHeif pf6liic heads5
all nature seemed to fepose I'D silence, SAVE
the tipping Of the Kehnebec over it's grav@
ely bed, and that slowly died away as thS
procession moved along, the gate swung
upon its rusty hinges, and they passed
through, winding their way amongst thS
death-sigrs 10 little grave-seatcel5 ono
step in length, yet Of sufficient size for fts
little tenant-cold and damp 10 all except
little Pitpat, who was tucked UP and warmly
covered, to sleep with the roses until the
curtain shall rise at the sound Of the trtfm-
pet. If, in some distant future, rose OF
nnusual fragrance and beatty shall blossom
on the spot, let it be called'Pitpat.
HEivY RA1ss-AIvarado; formerly Gov-
ernor of California when part OF Mexicoj
informs the San Francisco Herald that never
before in his experience has this State been