Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-15
Sun sATUHBAA NIsnr.
plAIn.


must We zee him lowered down In
the cold mouldinesS Of the grave
and hear the elods rattle upon his
coffin and Gee the hOrrid abysm
gradually close and hide him from
sight?
Shall we watch the labOrers with
q kind Of diotic stare Of curiosity
until the grave is filled, the dirt
heapOd up above it and the sod
carefully replaced, ami turning
away when the terrible task is done
leave him to the worms and-his
God?
Can it be that Willie is dead,
dead, dead? We knew he was
very Ill we saw that sickness was
stealing away the flesh from his
robust frame, the color from his
cheek, and the pleasant CLEAN from
his eye: but, o, we could not think
him dying.
he is dead, for there he lies cold
and stiff; yet it seems like adream,
Would to God It Verc a dream!
How mOurniul aud plying are
the looks Of those who have gath
cred here 10 show the last marks Of
respect for the dead. They seem 10
fear to have me catch their locke Of
sympathy.
And now the whispering 10 hush
cd and amid the solemn stiffness
the body 10 carried forth TO the
church and thence 10 the grave.
The last hour is come. Until now
the poor, dear, dead one was yet
here, and even his dead presence
was q consolation. But now they
viii bury him away Grever. Well
did they embalm the ancient dead
that, living or dead, they were ever
present.
The last funeral rites are being
performed and even while the
solemn words Of the minister are
uttered they are heard mechanical
ly their purport unheeded, and the
mind, despite the mouTnful Occa-
sion, continues lie strange analysis
Of even the most trivial occurrence.
But there is stoucbing familiarity
about the solemn Lesson which the
good man reads there is o solemn
grandeur in his words there is
hope and consolation in his prom.
ises, which even this dull ear it
forced to hear. lie reads: But
some man will say, how are the
dead raised up ? and with what
body do they come?
Thou fool, that which thou SOW.
est Is not quickened except il die /;
and that which thou sowest thou
sOwest not that body that shall be,
but bare grain; Il may chance Of
wheat or some other grain but
God giveth it a body .as it hath
pleased him, and TO every seed his
own body"
ut Is sown a natural body it is
raised . spiritual body. a
This corruptible must put on incor-
ruption,a and this mortal mus. put on
immortality" Then shall be
brought to pass the saying, that is
written, Death is sGalloWcd up in
Uictory.
10 death, where is thy sting 2
o grave, where is thy victory ?"
hear the stifled sob about me
with a kind Of wonderment, and
strange metaphysical Quesiionings
engage the mind with their subtle
ties.
Dead! What is death ? Is it
$40 die
And 50 We know not WherS
10 lie IN cold obstruction and 10 TOti
This sensible warm motion 70 become
AkneAded elod and the delighted spirit
Battle In Gerry nOOd' or reside
10 thrilling regions Of thick ribbed iceH"
ButShe mind gives away at last.
The heart and brain are both over.
taxed, and when the sweetly sol.
emn hymn break upon the ear, the
clouds Of sorrow are Embossed, and
fast falling tears sweep over the
benumbed heart.
II know that my Redeemer liv-
eth" DeGth has come among ne
and taken 9 darling from our flock.
But death was but q messenger Of
God, and He gave, and He hath tax.
en- away. o can / say "blessed
be the name Of the Lord" Yea,
God being my help, / will submit,
for He chastiseth whom He loveth.
just as God leads me l would 90;
would not ask 10 choose my way;
Content with what he will beitow,
Assured be will not let me stray.
So as he leads, my path make,
And step by step ! gladly take,
4 child In him connding,
Just Is 6odleads. ! I'm content;
Irest me calmly In HE hands;
That which he has deereed and sent
That which his will for me commands,
IwOuld that he should all iulhl,