New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-30
Written for the Crescent
The Cemetery of Vale Cracis-A Sketch

Our maps would not probably disclose the loca.
ton of the village of Avon; but the cemetery
spoken of was on the sea shore, within mile of
that place. | never saw a cemetery that pleased
me more; the very name seemed to include all
that is conveyed in those of Gethsemane, Calvary
and Mount Olivet. 1t is only light from the Cross
that can illumine =" the valley of the shadow of
death" When Jesus is with US we can meet the
King of Terrors with smile.
The arch of the gateway was surmounted with
q cross, with this inscription beneath
"vale of the Cross the shepherds tell
IT'S sweet within thy shades to dwell"
Many years. and eventful ones, had passed, since
my feet had trod those paths with the elastic step
of youth, which had then known little of sorrow
save the name and believed that those who had
heard the clods fall on the coffin of the idozed
mother, husband or child, had then tasted the
btterest chalice of woe and that their souls could
scarcely be riven with keener pang.
knew not then that such sorrow bears no com
parison with the mourning for the living, which
should have no confident but God; which is not
permitted to shroud itself in sable robes, or to
shut out the world from its home of woe.
Yesterday evening stood again by the grave of
my friend but before reaching it my attention was
arrested by the enclosure adjoining which was
appropriated to the Confederate soldiers. The
monument erected there was honorable both to
them, and to those who had thus perpetuated their
glorious memory. 1t was gothic shrine of mar
BILE, surmounted by the figure of Faith clasping
the cross Within, yelled female figure repre-
senting the mourning Southern Republic, placed
the scrolls containing the mpershabe record of
hnr al daa in tho nd If nF 10
tory. In the bas-reliefs the emblems of war were
introduced-yet so as also to signify the termina-
ton of the conflict, which made the survivors envy
the sleepers below, who had died for their cause,
believing that their blood had not been shed in
vain.
The sword was there, but it was broken-the
cannon dsmounted, the banners furled but those
who sought them could recognize the battle flag,
the starry Southern cross, and the names of Ma
masses, Fredericksburg, SUMTER etc. In one com
partment was seen an empty sarcophagus, by
which stood the Angel of the Resurrection.
The whole design was eminently Christian !;
faith, hope, charity, resignation were typiGed-not
Mars. Janus or Nemesis. The rarest shrubbery
and flowers adorned this sacred spot and even in
these there was an emblematie meaning. Migno.
nette, for here rested The darling of many desc,
late home; wall flower, type of fidelity in adyer-
sity. Laurel and olive abounded while at one side
of the inclosure grew a live oak, at the other a
cypress, both heavily draped with the mournful
gray moss.
At a short distance from this spot was an in
closure donated for the nterment Of those who
had to ask, from charity, even humanity's last
need-a few feet of earth But this was no Pot
ter's Field it had been given by one who praG-
ticed what he believed, and who preferred ex-
pending part of those riches, of which he
knew he was only the steward rather in the ser
vice of Gods poor than in that of Mammon. The
lot was surrounded by a hawthorn hedge; shrub
berry and flowers adorned it, and at each grave
was a simple head-stOne-that the grave of La2a
rus might be as easily found SIS that of Dives.
There is fine view of the ocean from the GENE
terry, and the dirge like voice of the pines seem
to unite with that of the pillows in chanting al
eternal requiem. 1t is true it matters little where
our mortal remains sleep till the resurrection morn
but never saw a spot which seemed so fully tt
unite.all with which we wish to surround the
grave as this sequestered, little known ''Valle