Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-09-28
AFTER THE FUNERAL-A PICTURE OF LIFE

annum-paysble in advance.
AFTER THE FUNERAL-A PICTURE OF LIFE
AND DEATH.-O all the returnings home, the
return from the grave after the funeral is the
most intensely sad Who that has ever fol-
lowed one dearly beloved to bis last rest will
not agree that it IS even so2
While the lost one was sick We went in and
out, anxious, sorrowing, fearful. The solic-
the apprehension of losing him excited and
agonized US, but there was no room nor time
for loneliness or sense of present desOlation.
While he lay dead beneath the home roof,
there was hurry and hustle in preparation for
the fnal rites Friends must be apprised and
inyited-the funeral arrangements definitely
made the mourning procured and fitted the
hosptalities of the house must bett the Occa-
sion all is excitement and tension; the loss is
not yet felt. .,
But when the coach drops US at our door
latter the iuneral," then it IS that the work
OF the destroyer begins to be apparent the
very house seems lonely, aud still and sepul-
chral. though it be iE the heart OF the toWD
and though it's threshold be thronRed with
friendly feet, it seems empty and void. The
apartments, oh how deserted-especialy the
room where he fought and surrendered in the
aWlul COuulCt. I1eTe, tueTe, everywhere, are
memories OF him. How they make the tears
start now, though we have often contemplated
them calmly ever since be died. Those are
his clotbes-how painfully distinct is our recol-
lection OF how he looked in every one OF them,
and when and where he last wore them. These
are his books, the one he last read, With the
leaf turned down where his place was. There
is his chair in the freside corner, where he
loved to sit. There his ever vacant seat at the
family board. During the sickness we had not
50 much noticed these-we hoped ever that be
might use or occupy them again; now We know
it cannot be, and this shows US the dreadful
vacuity everywhere.
Oh, how dark and dismal come down the
first night shadows latter the inoeral!' No
night was ever so dreary or SO long tlcklngs
of the clock reverbated like bell strokes-sueh
deep sence-uo footsteps on the stairs, or
overhead in the sick chamter-no nurse end
watchers TO come and say 'he is not SO well,
and asks for you"-no, indeed-you may sleep
on now and take your rest if you can.
Poor, bereavrd heart. it will be long before
the sweet rest you once knew vii! revisit your
couch Sumbcr will bring again the scenes
through which you have just "wakeDcd and
wept," and ycu will start from 1t but to tlnd all
too real.
God pity the mourners latter the funeral"
THE WORLD IS A MUsEUM-Those of our
readers who have visited New York and saun-
tered through its crowded throughtarcs, will
recognise the picture drawn below -
The whole is museum to those who have
eyes to see. Rare plays are unlolded before
every man who can read the drama OF lie In
tcliigently. Not 60 to the theatre? Wlcked
to see plays? Every street Is theatre. ODo
cannot open his eyes without seeing uncon
sciuus PLAYERS. There are Othellos, and Ham
lets, an Lears, Fallstaffs Ophellas, and 10
sauds, and JuIets, all about us. "Mldsun-
mer Night Dreams" are performing IN our
heavens. Happy? A walk up aud down
Broadway, New York. or Fulton street in
Brooklyn, is as good as q play. The children,
the nurses. the msidens, the mothers, The
wealthy every ybodys, the queer men, the un-
conscious buffoops, the drolls, the earnest non
sense, and the whimsical earnestness OF
men, the shop-windows, the cirs, the hor-
scs, the carriages bless us-tneIe Is oos
halt time enough to enjoy all that is
to be seen 10 these things Or, 1t the
mood takes you, 20 in and talk with the peo
ple-choosing, OF course fitting times and sea
sops. Be cheerful yourself and good natured
and respectful, and every man has secret Tor
YOU worth knowing. There is school master
waiting for you behind every door. Every
shopman has look of life different from yours
Human nature puts on as many kinds OF foliage
as trees do, and is far better worth studying
Anger is not alike in any two men, nor pride,
nor vanity, nor love. Every fool Is special
fool, and there is no duplicate. What are
trades ard all kinds Of business but laborato
ries where the ethereal thought Il transmitted
into some visible shape Of matter? What are
workmen but transiators OF mind into matter?
Men are cutting, saving, filing, fitting, JOIN
ing, polishing But every article is so much
mind condensed into matter. Work is ucarpa
lion, Nobody knows a city who only drives
along its streets. There are vaults under
streets, cellars under houses. atrcs above, shops
behind, At every step men are found tucked
away in some queer nook doing unexpected
things. themselves odd and full of entertaining
knowledge
INTEREST. Henry Ward Beecher says OF
interest : No blister draws sharper than the
interest does. OF all Industries mono is COM
parable to that of interest. 1t works all day
and night, in fair weather and foul. 1t has no
sound for its footsteps but travels fast. 1t
gnaws at mans substance with invisible teeth
1t binds industry with its finn as fly is bound
IN spiders web. Debt rolls man over aEd
over, binding hand and foot, letting him hang
upon the fatal mesh until the long legged in
terest devours him. There is but one thing
on tarm like it, and that is Canada thistle,
which s"arms new plants every time you break
its roots, whose blossoms are prolific. and every
flower the father of a million seeds. Every
leaf is an awl. every branch a spear and every
plant platoon of bayonets, and field of them
like an armed host. The whole plant il to-
ment and vegetable curse. Aud yet far
mer had better make his bed OF Canada this,les
than attempt TO be at ease upon interest.
THERE is lady named Crandail residing at
Norn;ob Tonnecticnt who on certain occa-