Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-30
MEmoRIAL DAY.

number Of visitors came from out
Of town and flowers for the puF-
poses Of decoration were offered
p~rofusely. In spite Of heat and
dust and distance q large number
we're present at the floral Ceremo-
nies. At half past four o'clock the
procession moved on foot from the
Court House to the cemetery. We
noticed q large delegation Of the
public school scholars attended by
many Of their parents, also the
members of fire company "Mis-
sissippi No. 2 Jr."
In addition to this procession,
which made a very fiue appearance,
were numerous persons on horse
back aud in carriages. Every one
seemed ladened with flowers. II
was exceedingly appropriate that
those children, so young, so limo.
cent and g~uileless, so free from the
corrOsion of the world, should be
chief in the sacred testimonials
from the living to the HOnored
Dead. II was somewhat late when
all had arrived upon the grounds
which have been set apart for the
last earthly resting place of these
loved ones. In the midst of the
numerous surrounding graves was
q mound actually submerged in
living and growing flowers and
overhung with magnificent arches
Of evergreens and roses.
The assemblage arranged them.
selves on the grass near about, and
after a most touching aud effective
ly sung hymn, Rev. Mr.. Lin6eld
followed with a prayer which went
to every heart. It was full of the
sweetness aud holiness Of q humane,
christian-lik and patriotic love.
At its close Z. D. Clark, Esq, was
introduced, and delivered an ora
ton most filing to the time, place
and occasion, and breathing forth
the inextinguishable fires of an I'M
dying patriotism commlngled with
the truest, purest aud fondest love
and remembrance Of the Reveren-
ced Dead. The Grafton consumed
the time till about shutdown and as
the god OF day sank behind the
western hills and threw his golden
glamour over hill and valley
wood and stream, we could but ash
ourselves if such wa not the Cter,
nal beauty of the sphere, where oul
Dead nor Ice.
At his conclusion, Master John
Roach, Of the public school, wa
presented aud delivered a mani,
and touching tribute to the occa
sion and its cause on behalf OF hi
school.mates; succeeding which
came a benediction by Rev. Nj
Walnc.
AS we fingered behind the rest t,
note the scene, ms the twilight cam
stealing %solemnly over the hills, W.
thoughtful of those who we wcr
leaving alone, as it were, with Ma
ture and God. The aspect of lif
was gone aud the very flower
seemed rapidly dropping and fad
ing away. But in that moment AM
even as we thought that God ha,
spared US and taken them, that W
were alive and they dead, eve
then we almost felt a pang 0
strange envy that we too were no
taken to die before we knew defeat
while hope beat high. Why SHOULD
we sorrow over their graves, the.
who are so hOuored to-day 70
their noble martyrdom, they VIII
had lived long enough to win
place of eternal remembrance i
the hearts of true Southern people
Many a silent prayer went up t
, the throne Of God from the heart
of that assembly as they wende
} their ways hOmeward, and man
, resolved that the memory of tn
: Holy Dead should never fade frol
| the tablets of their hearts.
/, May the Southern people neve
e live to neglect the sacred ccrcmo
mics of the 2Gih of April.
IT.. Al. If..u.t.N,tsAa 80 Nh