Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-08-07
IUI CHC OpOCt0UOI
"Let this be sung"

One Sabbath morning in winter, few years
since, the writer preached the funeral of a love-
ly child, whom the Saviour had taken to his
arms The services were conducted in a sweet
mountain home, and as the day was pleasant
for the season, it was filled to overfowing by a
congregation Of friends and neighbors. The
Psalmist's comforting words furnished the text:
Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy
cometh in the morning"
A young girl of surprising beauty sat near
the speaker, who had his attention attracted by
the tender solemnity Of her manners. Tear af
ter tear stole silently and softly amid the roses
of her cheek, in sympathy with the bereaved,
showing that though she was young, still she
had heart to feel for the sorrows Of others.
Upon occasions of this character one volun-
tarily inquiries who may be the next, to be
called hence and, we turn to the aged, or to
the infrm invalid, to select those as most prob
ably, the devoted Of death; and yet how fire.
quently are we mistaken. In that assembly,
gathered from the mountain side, and the Val
ley, were aged ones, whose grey hairs, and
feeble trembling steps, foreboded the early ap-
proach of the pale Reaper. There were others
so emaciated by exposure and disease, that the
ghostly seal seemed to be already impressed
But none of these were to be the next to enter
the shadows of the grave. 1t was so ordered
by Him whose thoughts are not as our thoughts,
that our young friend, whose promise of life
was so fattering should be the first of all pres
ent, to fold around herself the drapery of the
dying couch and lie down beneath the SHOWS in
dreamless rest. @sia 5ga
Before the next Sabbath morning, she suf-
fered, and died, and left her once happy home
sad and desolate A few hours before she died,
she arose and walked to the freside, and re-
quested her Bible and pencil to be given her.
A funeral text was found and marked, and then
with trembling hand, a note was written for
the minister of her choice, requesting him to
preach her funeral sermon, and do what he
could for the benefit of the living.
Her voice having failed, she made a sign for
her friends to sing for her. They gave her a
copy of the Christian Minstrel to make selec-
ton. She readily turned to these words, and
wrobe her last sentence, "Let ttis be sang" =
''How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,
In a believers ear -7&f JtFat 'Ha 80
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear. ...s g. -E 81
1t makes the wounded spirit whole,
F And calms the troubled breast;
sss 'Tis mamma to.the hungry soul, o.Q.
ana 70 .he weary resi- 7i0. -a9. 7easa
a-~, Weak is the effort of my heart,
,{-... And cold my warmest thought;
But when SEE thee as thou art, s
Hi pll praise thee as ought. t t3-.
Till then I would thy love proclaim, $50 o.
- With ev'ry fleeting breath, s-' s-.---iA
And may the music of thy name 2
- Refresh my soul in death" u
Soon after the singing ceased her night of
weeping closed amid the tears, and unavaiing
efforts of anxious friends, and the morning of
her JOY was ushered in. ~ w. T.. P.
MONTEREY, July 25th, 1866.