The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-12-20
CHILD's PRAYERS.
Correspondence of the New York Observer.
Gods Acre, or Court Of Peace.

day in this month of August. as ! was
walking out with a young German
friend who did not understand a word
of the English language, that saw at
q little distance an enclosure, neat grav-
el walks and shrubbery, with flowers
showing through the iron railing that
surrounded it. | asked what the en-
closure was, aud the answer, in Ger
man, struck me pleasingly: "GOtte-
sackr."
] had never heard the word for grave.
yard before in German, though the Eng
hsh of it, Goods Acre." is familiar, and
has often been the theme Of poetry and
prose. Gottes Acker, is the acre or
piece of ground that belongs, not to
man, of all the land in the earth that he
claims az his own, but is the Lords.
And why is it Hist The earth is the
Lords aud the tlllness The noun
tains and the valleys. the plains also,
and all that are therein. Why is this
small enclosure, petty piece of ground
in the midst of a wide, magnificent do
main, alone called Gods? Is not every
acre Hisl lie is not the God OF the
dead, but of the living, yet the dead are
here, and they praise Him not; there is
no speech nor language. their voice is
not heard; there is no work nor device
in the grave. Yet this is Gods Acre.
Yes, II is His, because all who inhab-
it this place have gone to Him. The
dust has returned to the dust ~ it was,
and the spirit to God who gave it. TO
me there is an unspeakabIe sweetness
in the thought that the dead are with
the Lord. they who love Him are for
ever with the Lord. We walked into
the sacred enclosure, for the gate was
open, inviting the passer.by to come in.
The paths were neatly gra, eled, and the
plots surrounded with towering shrubs,
and the graves not raised above the
ground as ours often are, but loveled,
and each grave bordered with lockwood
and planted with flowers. Few were
marked with a hcadsione, but most Of
them had a staff set up in form Of a
cross, aud on it plate with briet in
scription. The centre OF the graveyard
was laid off in n circle, planted with
trees aud furnished with seats, where
friends could sit in the shade and medi-
tate among the graves Of departed
friends sat down, and my thoughts
went away, thousands Of miles across
the ocean, to other places where the
dead are laid, and each one Of those dis
tant but hallowed spots was Gods Acre
in my bleeding heart Scattered
graves, among the Evergreens or in
Woodlawn, wherever they are made,
the dust only is divided, the spirits are
all with God. Even the dust of them
that sleep in Him is watched, and will
live again. Little children, precious
children, the light and joy Of homes
now still if not deserted, are with God,
their angels seeing his face always.
Their forms so dear are in Gods Acre,
their spirits so much dearer are in Gods s
bosom.
10 let my trembling soul be still
WLie darkness wells this mortal eye
Aud wait Thy wi-e, Thy holy will
Wmppd yet IN tears and mystery.
IenmoI, Lord, Thy purpose see
Lall Is well--rnce ruled by Thee"
Aud yet sitting here in this strange
land and among strangers, to whom my
every word is strange, because am st
far from home and friends, and in God''
Acre. | get sense OF the mystery b
death, that did not reveal itself before
Death Is not 80 much separation as {
reunion. 1t unites more than it divides
All the dead in Christ are in Him now
Their bodies being united to Christ dc
rest in their graves until the resnrrcc
ton" And all who love the same Sa
yior are even now "dead and their Iive'
are hid with Christ in God" This il
the mystery revealed. We are only
waiting for the manifestation Of the son'
OF God. We are all one, and in One
"Part Of the host have crossed the food,
.r And Iart ore crossing now
Why then should we mourn the dead
They are united to Him who's our Life
md in whom We and they will liv,
world without end What then am |
in this home Of the dead, but
"a drop dlsseyered from the boundlOss sea,
Amoment parted from eternity!
Apilgrln painting for rest 10 come,
An exile longing for his native hone."
Sand is Gottesacker the only wore
for this place in your German tongue,
Iaskeh.
at j. also called FriedhoE"
Fred means peace, and HOf Is tn
yard or court of u house, and Friedho
i 1.-The Court oi Peace" This was an
other bpmtifnl and fitting name. !
speaks TOR ilsylf, aud sweclly cxpressc
lie feeling of this place. 1t is peace
oil peace here. The battles OF lie ar,
fought and there is no strife in this cour
of peace. The struggles, the cares
anxielies, rivalries, iealousies, fears, al
that disquiet, harrass, fret and annoy
all, NIL are buried here. The tramp Of
million men in arms awakens no sleepe
here The church itself may be rem
and torn aud shaken to its base, but it
members in this court Of peace are no
distressed. These hearts Jhat one
painted, burned and bled in the race
ihe stripes and sorrows OF the world
are all at peace now, Blessed is III
,est that cannot DO broken till tho trum