New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-21
AN HorR IN AN OLD GRAVEYARD.
THE GRAVE OF JONATHAN EDWAKDS-OLD PU-
RITAN NAMEs-A TOUCHING TRIDUTE-TIIE
CLARKE INSTITUTION.

RITAN NAMES--A TOUCHING TRlDUIE-IuE
CLARKE INSTITUTION.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass, July 1S.-One day this
week. while the dow stin fresh upon the wayside
grass and tho village streets were still deserted found
myself I'm front of the Oldest burial place in the neghbor
hood turned into the gate, which stood OPEN ana
found that this city Of the dead Puritan in the sim
Dcity and precision Of its arrangements It's site was
broad Gas stretch of land with no beauty but that
given by the empowering foliage Of many ancient tire cs
It's avenues were straight up and down, and straight
across. lis monuments were mostly upright head
stones, many Of them gray with age, and covered with
hali-enaccd inscriptions The flowers grew INTENDED,
and the robin aud the sparrow perchei earlessly upon
the Srayest5ne the grass was long and rank, and the
by-ways almost untrOdden Tho names upon
many OF the stones such have passed into the
historical annals Of New England. Ihad not gone many
steps before came to the last home Of Dwight; little
further on slept Lyman and probably with litt!c
research should nave found a S5dsewck-these three
families having been Blended and connected. and widely
scattered this part OF Massachusetts, Now shall
be sure to find an Edwards" said l TO myself, 60 tho
parent stock from which many of these Ol-aAOOtS
havo sprung" did not suppose thIt my next step
would take mo in front OF memorial OF tho great
founder OF the family, not knowing that he had monu-
ment here until read upon very modest Maidstone,
utterly without ornament Of any sort those words:
REVEREND JONATHAN EDWARDS,
Born october s. l7O5; Ordained colleague Pastor
a.
Dismissed jane D. 1869.
Died DISMAL POI in NecJersey Aereh 22 1752
On the lower part of the stone was the following:
THOMAS CHALMERS. d. D.,
THE SCOTCH DIVINE AND PROTECTOR OF THE FREE CHURCH
Died Of Ap0pterV, Aa83O, 1877, IN his t7M gear.
preacher said not long ago. that he had never seen
on any tombstone inscription testfyins to the bliss
funess of DEATH but now passed along these words
caught my eye:
81 SHAH be satisfied wtcn aicoEe in Hy likeness"
The given Of mon and women, as sc,uptured on
these quaint headsones carried one back to Colonial
times "Wealthy" seems to have been favorte name
among the latter, also DOrca7, RhOda Penelope
Nancy, and Prudence. Gaius and Timothy were fire.
ouently to be met with among the men. AS
paused for minute, leaning against the
iron railing of Enclosure, L saw little
procession of children coming toward me
up the main TIey were mostly little children
though there some large boys and girls arnong
them. They walked two and two carrying each one
boquet of flowers. The procession was headed by
group Of ladies' and passed in front Of the Enclosure
whore stood. One Of the ladies went inside of 1t, and
laying her bouquet upon grave which had no memorial
of any sort denote who rested within it, she beckoned
to the children who approached silently, one by one,
and handed her their flowers which She with the assist
auce of another LADY, laid carefully upon the grave,
until it had such a covering of white and
red roses, lilies and blue larkspurs, and
mgnOnettes peeping from between green sprays,
that not inch OF its surface could he 1t
great mosaic OF 1Owers Having done this, the alton
ton of the OweTbrncers next turned to grave at
the side this one and also nameless and having given
to it likewise covering Of flowers, the little band fled
slowly by and departed quietly 1t had cOme-all
this having taken place before o'clock in the morning
cOnued the faces and figures of the children they
passed me. Without exception they neatly, and
most OF them asefuy dressed. Nearly every face was
intelligent and bore the marks OF refinement /
noticed in the ranks smart-looking boy OF
about 12 quite black. There were some very
little children with bright eyes and healthy
faces. at the end OF the train Last OF all walked two
tiny people, hand IN hand. fnclOOkng sturdy boy Of
six SEVEN with tawny brown curls clustering close TO
his head Of dark complexion and dark blue yea The
girl, OF about the same age was fair, delicate little
thing with brown, Dird-ke eyes, aud fair hair waving
over her shoulders. These children, though respectful
and quiet in their demeanor were yet whispering among
themselves DrOkenly, as children viii do passcr
meeting them the street would suppose that they
were pupils OF private school for picnic
But, mol These children were the pupils Of the Clarke
Institution.
The Clarke Institution Is a State school,
brought into existence, In great part, by an
endowment from Mr.. John Clarke Of Northampton,
who died few years ago. IL Is for the deaf and the
deafdumb in 1t they taught u speak and 10 under
stand what Is said to them from the motion Of the
speakers lips. When Mr.. Clarke died these children
anniversary of his death they do the The grave
beside his that of his wife, who jealous
with him IN all the good that he did for these
dwellers In the silent world. All the children whom /
had seen were deaf from BIRTH or had become at
early age Yet this would not have been suspected by
any who had seen them talking together, only Occa
gOnallv using gesture TO enforce remark. There
no other school Of this kind in the country. Flowers,
therefore, upon the grave Of him who had bestowed his
bounty for the purpose OF making the dumb TO speak
and the deaf 10 uudcrstand-theTCby Fastening the full
fImeut Of an Old prOphecy-secmed the most beautiful
and tender tribute from these children who otherwise
would have remained VOceIeS' curing IAcH eItAy Ves