Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-02-26
A WREATH UPON TEE TOMB OF
LITTLE BEIRNE.



In the beginning Of his fourth year. the life Of our
boy ended. On beautiful sabbath morning,
toward the close Of April, lsds, messenger, uneX
pected and unsoon slipped the bright LINK between
boy was dead The great transit from u life Of
trouble to life Of bliss was quickly made. lie had
bcen attired for the day and In his JOY had to
our knees and claimed lbs noining Hiss. In ten
short minutes he had stirred the bright throg OF
Heaven by his entrance there--was soaring in the
world of saints, and we were wretchcd u the world
below 7 M that clear SKY aP baliny air which
had just giaddcncd Us and hin, tle min OF SORROW
o.line down IN the ashen chambers OF our hedrs
with all the Loneliness Of woe. Cur po,css chcrub
had left u never to retHrn
On tno An Of April, le65, during that awful eul-
mnation OF late, which for u willie veilod from the
eyes 81 our people the Guy Of RE flhoud, he was
given To u only lie came ihe a beautiful
cheruLa IRON the skies to rci4eyc the mysterious
dread Of HAT dark day. For three years, willc ash
else was doubt and gloom, he tho bright being
around WHOM NE generous aspirations OF our hearts
khelt In gratitude to God. lie was ike bright
vision before which onr faculties read deeper lessons
In the mystery OF Heavenly love. In his smiles
hopes bnsked and renewed their elasticity before
pioddmg on in the drudgery of life. When the
Angel OF Death came anoag the opehng flowers of
spring, he found him. next TO our Redeomer, treas
ured ln the hottest temple OF our being, and with
uulciuntiug but tender arms, bore him, apparently
without PAM back TO the helds OF bliss. Ii there
% those whose souls are not moved to hGshed
the sweet dialect % childhood, ard who can find ia
a cold and wicked world pleasing substitute for
cAcrubic simplicity, there yet aie may Of diviner
3
with his bright uio Of summers ia bis eyes, was to
Us source OF bliss which the world caunot return.
Tie was marvellous union OF affection and decision,
Of artlessncss and Intellect, Of seli-reauce and
| love; and an ildiv lduaily thus strongly mar5ed
has lett It's impress memories Tor dine. lie
Comes and goes across the thresold Of our hearts
~ their every pulsation and visions Of his lovl-
uess adofn our dreams in the starry silence Of the
| night Why the stern messenger from beyond the
tomb CLOSE This Precious jewel OF our household we
cannot Know bus llc who sent him on lis work OF
death bade him Ia lnorCy spare for yet while that
lalr-halrcd angel OF our home, over whom we have
ior sight years watched and prayed and loved to-
gctrf. The meridian OF allotted lie warns that
ne viii one day return, and while we go toward the
shadowy odgo 81 life, 80 sorrow ing y ior we
have "A ciorusic circle Ia that delightful land 10
which ueiI Spirits caIi as. Through the shadowy
| cnvirons OF moral aense not that iar land
| where pcnitcnce and pardon work the wondrous
| meumorlhosis of the soul Yet in those moments
of divine intuition, WHOM most tide spirit l0ngs Tor
Heaven, We have thought could hear the angelic
song of Joy and see the Heavenly urug drink der-
est OF iis giofivs az these Pledges our coming.
W hen the sonl 81 Little BEiKAE hud sped fFon con-
tact VIII our moral seusrs, something evil whis-
poied that the world To Que great min
that the great OBJECT OF our life lad pcfisliod but
Whom we had carried hi, beautiful tenement away
and in the midst of the pitiicss nin, 10 placed
beneath the sod OF The cemetery, We remembered
the stone that was rolled away from the tomb uear
Jerusalem, and weoalno honc with hoiicrsud higher
| aspirations. Ne would taiu make the btiet transit
OF earh Ia a. lowie attitude, AID trusting To THAT
| Divine guidance which We feel but cannot see.
i ~.
the last ordeal o the flesh and Ioloin Aln IN the lad
| oi rest.
| Dear boy, we would not forget the golden memo
| mes thAt cluster on Thy name, on ln the dcwy
silence Of the evening visit tho spot which holds
the prieelcss treasure Of thy heart. There we1paut
the green hcrbagC OF tho valley and the sweet rose
timc writes alike on leaf and marble, look forward
To the night WHOM these tenomcnts OF clay shall cfun-
Die down. and We shall he beside thee la the silent
omrire OF dissolyh,g nesh Tor thcro our Journey oi
the world must end. There must cease his slring,
attenuation Of plidr and Shame, of smiles and tears
The morning shadow thy sod shall neo AWAY
| the brook, near, shall hush is song upon IN
busy ain, Which Ia 10 turn snail lod s pluinage al
| ply lolnb IN natulp's hiHd panso the glorous sun
/ at his appointed time, shall take his nual maref
sdown his western path OF gold and ie.,yo 40 starry
host To yell their faces IA the yellow nuri-nl these
shall pay their last homage 70 The planetary schem,
OF Ood high hand lwork, and iot if that euimativ,
| Silence which shall be- tho ohd OF all things But
lhuu bright spiiit, shall never die Washed of thy
mortal stain ihon shalt soar 70 the deep sosrces
| celestial bliss and live forever
| fancy has walked among the prophets aud r.iri
l arehs back beyond tine Hood, across the plai.s o.
| Cuanan, among the groves beside the lliddekel {
! hud something typical of the heavenly land Thtrt
la that hottest rdn OF the early world IL has eath
cred the won1ruus material wlth " hch 20 pains M
-ccipry 81 the shles. Tins The sspiiing sout an,
/ longing heart behold, auLl the streams AID shedo
and irults and howcrs the Great Throne, cadFVltl
the rifcltng perwtgiiy of morning ard cfoNsh1iAln
Inc Ron ~ baihlohrh, sending hi uyedeldlarei
throngh the scenes Of chat delightful hndNfsftNor
I iiop thal Diisht company OF tho SONS of COD w
! would not recall thee. Danger meets ID Hero
Temptation, viii ts lovely visase aud syren to.lg ~
ATS whhin ne temple of our souls aud wthyu
! tho beautiful fabric with which we nin would Md
pur deiouuily. Oh, how faithfully docs @ nuiste
] 20 the heshl In all tho fair loiiis OF Garth d pay
! tribpte TO oar clay.
| Nay thou an saved al last. Go ON in the ghu
cyc+s az "erul Test; drink of he lcavcul
slf cams walk anaIg the hord riches Of thar peer
less realm go ga ely silver Eing, al Gods behysi
nd store lhe distaut worlds with the riches OF lii
siAso tlll we sAl ceae and sather thee again TO on
| emirice,