The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-20
IN MEMORIAM.
"Green be the turf above thee,
Friend of my early days.;
None knew thee but to love thee,
Few named thee but to praise"

Died, suddenly on the 10th of July, 1856,
JOHN HOPE KIRBY, aged 80 years.
Generous to a fault, and uniting high degree
ofiHtelectual capacity with all the finer qualities
that adorn the polished gentleman, Mr.. k1RBY,by
his easy grace and mild disposition, won the re-
gard and esteem of all with whom he came in con-
tact, and in his sudden demise the community has
lost a good citi zen, his family an afectionate
member, and the writer of this article valued
and dear friend, who will ever be remembered
first among those pictures that hang sidewise on
memory's wall.
True to the impulses ofhis nature, when Virginia
called her sons to defend her honor the bat
tie field, he was among the first to respond. En-
tering the service in the outbreak of the war, he
attached himself to the 4lst Virginia Regiment,
and after nobly battling through the four years of
terrible carnage that ensued he, at the end of the
war, returned to greet the loved ones at home.
With what pleasant emotions he was welcomed
by his fond parents, sisters, brothers, and friends,
after the hardships of those long, weary years of
privation and of dangers, and what anticipations
of future happiness filled their. minds only be
imagined. But, alas! how brittle thread is life;
and how inscrutable arc the ways of Providence.
Death, which he had so often faced through war,
aud want, and famine, came stealthily and sud
deLly upon him,
''Seized his bonded debtor, and bore him to the
That dismal charnel house. where in foul state
The Royal Ghoul holdeth secret orgies
Ply anticipations of the loved ones by whom he was
surrounded.
DEATH come in whatever form it may, is
fearful thing; fearful, when by long and lasting
disease the vital cords are so gradually relaxed
that life passes away softly music from the
slumbering harp string; when the departing one
has been surrounded by those who have looked
for the end, and sweetly followed him with their
prayers, when the assduities of friendship and
affection can go no further, and who discourse
OF heaven ana future BILE sedness till the closing
ear can no longer catch the tones of the long ia
miliar voice, and who, lingering near, still feel
for the hushed pulse, and then trace in the placid
slumber which pervades each feature quiet EN-.
blem of the spirits serene repose; but how much
more fearful when be thus suddenly appears in
our midst and bears away from among us one in
the very bloom of youth and manhood.
Fearful, indeed And oh, how hard for us to
realize that he will mingle with us more; that
the family circle, which was wont to be enlivened
by the tones of his cheerful voice, will forever
hereafter exhibit vacant chair. No, no; he
will never come again. Spring shall come with
its buds OF promise, Summer with its purpling
fruits, and Autumn with its goldsn harvests-
but he aciU come no more There is no returning
pathway through the grave
Fond parents, ahectionate sisters, loving broth
ers, mournful relatives and friends, though he
whom you so much loved and idoized, has been,
by death, torn away-though his once buoyant
and manly frame now lies beneath the cold sod
though the clouds of affection now hang dark
around you-pe yet cheerful; for the dispense
tions of an all-wise Providence are for the wei
fare of His children 1t was, perhaps, best for
your darling relative to leave you; it may serve
to loosen your hold life, and, probably, rescue
him from the endurance of many sorrows and
troubles here. 0a sti
"You mourn him, but you mourn him not
AS one to whom is given,
No soothing thought. no blissful hope
Ofparted friends in heavenr'
Farewell, dear friend For as such thou vert
loved in life and recollections of thy many noble
qualities will, still lingering, ever haunt the
greenest spot on memorys waste. Farewell !
Sweet vioets shall bloom above thy grave, and
friendship and affection ever water them with
their tears. Farewell
fAround thy pure urn may darkest cypress wave
Youth could not save thee from early grave"
He, T.