Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-02-16
Spirit Of aeffsrsoll
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The Humble Grave.

i
The last rays of the setting sun linger as If
10th to depart, aud clothe in golden tints tie
ire e-tops aud the cold, marble pillars. The
clouds Hoat in the heavens here aud there
relieved by patches of blue, and the gentle
evening breeze plays with the fallen leaves,
and signs through the leafess trees q dying
dirge for the lost season.
We tread uur way carefully among the
many little mounds, humble monuments to
the sleepers, and pause moment to read the
inscription on pillars and shafts erected to the
memory of the dead, Varied are the thoughts
that crowd upon Us as We wend our way
through the silent city of the sleeping. How
many bright hopes have here found burial,
how many weary hearts have yearned for rest
how many dreams of life here seek their
answerl
Truly is death common leveler. The
rich and the poor, the proud and the humble,
peer and beggar, priest aud soldier, the joys
of households, aud the friendless outcast. hero
rest side by side, and mingle their moulder-
ing dust together. Death is no respecter of
persons, Is the one lesson which all this
teaches Us.
We have come to the object of our search
"a little gave marked Icy marble head
stone. single ray OF go den light illumines
1t we read the simple inscription which it
bears: Our Minnie, Aged 8 years. The
grass and Towering vine lie withered, aud
the fallen leaves carpet the little mound
Everything denotes the parting season. ex-
cept a lonely evergreen at the head of the
grave. 1t lives, and, ah, do we not know
that she, too, lives, but in the better world :
When the earth was freed from its icy fet,
ters, and the flowers put forth their tender
petals, and the robins returned to their old
20 tuytAk hair neE
we folded her little hands over her iifeless
breast. The sunken eyes told how deep her
sufferiHgs had been, but her pale lips gave
back no complaint. Through the solemn
hours of that last night We watched by her
bedside, pressing her fevered head TO our
bosom, aud wetting the parched lips, listening
with tear-wet eyes and cheeks to her childish
prattle, as in her fevered imaginings, she was
playing by the pebbly stream, or romping in
the garden with doll aud kitten. Ah, too we'll
we saw the coming of the dreaded messenger,
yet feared his arrival.
He came at last. and with him came peace
to one troubled spirit. We saw the change
coming on and gathered around the bedside.
She opened her eyes, and looking around saw
our tear wet faces. Don't cry," she said
"Minnie won't be sick any more she's going
away, you'll come and see her after \ while.
Kiss Minnie"
A happy smile Illuminated her face, the
loving eyes closed, and quietly, peacefully,
she passed to the other size. Yes, our little
one was at rest.
The grave digger with his pick and spade
made home for the dead. Meath the pro.
tecting shade of friendly tree we laid her,
where the winds gently sigh requiem, aud
where the birds sing all day long. In this
quiet spot she rests in peace and when far
distant, we love to dream of that little mound
Of affection in the humble village graveyard,
CHERRY BLOSSOM,