The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-03-04
Miseellaneoas.
Flowers at Funerals.

erly residing in Brooklyn. N. Y, aud
there accustomed to see flowers employ
ed freely at funerals, writes to us to say
that he had brought dowa upon him.
self severe anlmadversion BY following
this beautiful custom on n recent fune
raj occasion, and he asks us to express
some opinion Of the use Of flowers at
the funeral Of our dead.
About fifteen years ago was called
to ofhciate at the burial of a sweet girl !.
about sixteen years Of age. Her pa
rents stood high 10 society, and she was
their only child. When | entered the
spacious parlor, aud went to the coffin,
the face was so fair that it seemed TO
me as if the world on the other side
was shining through it. In her narrow
chamber she lay in pure white, without
single flower. | could not bear it,
and without saying word to any one,
left the room There was withiti
block garden aud nursery, whose pro
prietor | well knew. fairly ran TO his
greenhouse and, without salntation,
cried out: Davidson, cut me every
thing choice. that is white that W.,
have got"
With my hands full Of white roses,
tube. roses, orange blossoms. sweet alys.
sum, etc., | returned and entered The
parlor. The momeut / passed tie door
every Que seemed moved hy the same
impulse The father and mother rose
up in tears aud came to the coffin
Friends took from me and bepap dress.
ing the coffin with them. and the moth.
err, with deep sigh, said. "Oh. this is
just what we wanted; but we were too
full of sorrow to think Of them"
Will any one tell why those flowers
ought not TO have been there |? Can
any one refuse flowers to diving bodies
Of those who are disciples Of Him Of
whom it is said snow. in the place
where he was crucified there was a gar.
den, and in the garden a new sepulchre.
There they laid Jesus"
For my own part. | shall never cease
TO be thank full that John fbe only a
all Evangelists, } mentioned that com.
fortiug fact.
After the grim hour of the arrest
night, the fierce cruelties of the trial
and the burden and aprui. h Of the cru,
elk, it is inexpressible soothing to fol.
low the sacred form TO the ouie,ude II
q garden and Law him down in n cool
rock chamber around which flowers
hung. There, iu the morning flowers
dropping with the weight of dew lean.
ed their heads against the stone. not
knowing whose sepulchre thew made
beautiful. nor that the perfurmsry which
then exhaled vas aobler Offering than
all the incense of the sanctuary, There,
| in a garden. among green leaves and
fragrant vines, and spicy blossoms aud
murmuring leaves in the gentle wind.
he rested and waited for the auspieious
day when lifting bis head with renewed
life he should liit up to new hone and
| sublime destiuy every man on earth
Ifthere we're no other reason il IS
enough that friends are comforted -
What mother but is glad TO see her in.
| nocsnt child. never SO dear and beauti.
| full as in death, living amid fragrant
flowers Who that has true sentiment
but feels that something is taken awav
| of the earthiness of death by the pres.
euce Of flowers?
Must We forever regard death from,
the heather stand pointa Shall we
forever give way TO grief without 70.
straintY Shall we studioasly epdeavor