The Lincoln County herald., 1871-09-21
tFor the Herald.l
The Word Farewell.


If ever latent feeling Of love and
friendship sssumesa tender reality. sweep.
ing the iuuermost depths Of the soul, end
kiudling sadly sweet emotions in. two
warm hearts, 1t is - memory fingers upon
the parting hour, aud va whisper that
little, but very expressive word. "Fars
WE'LL"
Brave heart that has buifeted the
storms Of life, and did not trembls io1
the issue when troubles came, how pow.
erless at last to check the rising tear or
suppress . sigh, as you utter an adieu to
the friend who has shared your every
JOY aud sorrow-your little playmate IN
ohildhood's happy days-wheu earth
seemed q paradise Of winning confidence,
innocence, and truth.
As one who stands IN deaths silent
chamber, aud while gazing on the pallid
face upon which the sad word "ended"
is written BY icy fingers, and is ready to
forget and forgive all the foliies Of mis-
spent life, and even draw the soft
mantle Of charity" over the record Of an
enemy who has wronged US; even so,
when we come to part with those who
only had . small share Of our affections,
and we readily forgive any difference that
existed, or hard feelings that bluuted
the warm current of our regard.
If then, such are our emotions upon
saying adieu to some ordinary associate,
how much more intense the feelings Of
regard when the eye is resting upon
features endeared to US BY a thousand
hallowed remembranccs, and the hand
clasps hand, perhaps never again to feel
it's warm pressure, never again to hear
the kindly voice or welcome the smile
that gladdeued US Of yure.
But is it the nero fact of parting that
gives US pain? oh, no; rather it is the
question that intrudes itself upon Us,
How. when aud where shall We meet
again? We are 10th to say good bye
for knowing how frai the tension We hold
upon earth's dearest joys, and that death
is ever near, lurking in the fairest dow.
ers We cannot always banbh au appre-
hension for safety and happiness, how
ever grouudless that apprehension may
be and when presentiments of evil and
danger. almost amounting to superstition,
will sometimes take possession OF the
most buoyant aud fearless heart.
How will it be at the next meeting ?
Reader, you may we'll ponder this. You
have some dear one who is going from
you it may be some bright sweet face
you hope to call your wife at no very
distant day, and she is going from you or
you from her have you pledged vow
of constancy that nothing can turn aside,
or will time and distance have taught
you that "absence conquers love-"
What Is your next thought? When
Will it be week, a month, or a year ?
Will it be when care and trouble have
left deep furrows upon your brow, and
your eye has lost its lustre, and your
cheek its wonted bloom? or will it be
when you shall have added fresh laurels
to the history with which your ohil.dlife
began ? or when you have gathered .
wreath Of glory to crown insurer years?
aud lastly, when, solemn thought-for
you are now trsading upon sacred ground
your spirit is born upward to the better
land ? Will you meet at last In heaven,
where no adieu is spoken, no farewell
can lingsr upon quiveriug lips; no tear
can dim the light of . loving eye, no
throb Of pain can ever reach the soul ?
Breathe that word tendsrly when you
say, "Farewelli" Seal it with wish that
heaven may guard and bless your absent
friend. Then, when death shall still the
throbbing pulse and the clods Of the
valley conceal from mortal gaze all that
remains of that much loved companion,
be your trust that those you have SO ten
derly cherished here below, now wrapped
10 the fsdeless drapery Of eternal rest,
have gone to receive their reward.
B. w. W.