Saint Mary's beacon., 1873-09-18

eyes we're dim and senses f:iling-grand-
mothers vho might hare died ten years
ago and still been old-the deaf, the blind .
tbs lame. the palsied, ne living dead IN
many shapes and forms. q see the closing
Of that early grave. Whit vas the death
il would shut in, TO that which ssiu could
crawl and creep above it.!
Along the crowded path they bore her
now; purely as the newly fallen snow that
covered il, whose day on earth had been
- feeting. linden that porch where she
,t=2 81 Nhss he.vcr is its mercy brought
her TO that peaceful spot. she passed again.
and the old church received her in its quiet
shade.
They carried her to one old mound where
she had many aud many q time sat mus
ing. and laid their burden softly on the
pavement. The light s,reamed on it
through the colored window window
where the boughs Of the trees were ever
rustling in the summer. and where the
birds sang sweetly all day long. With
every breath Of air that stirred among
those branches in the sunshine. some trem-
bling. changing ligh, would fall upon her
grave.
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes. dust to
dust. Many young hand dropped its
little wreath; many a stifled sob was
heard. some-and they were not few
knel; down. All were sincere and truth
tul in .heir sorrow
The services done. The mourncrs stood
apart and the villagers closed round to
look into the grave before the pavement
stone should be replaced. Oac called
to mind low he had seen her sitting on
that very spot, and how her book had
fallen on her lap. and she was ga:ing
with pensive face upon the sky. An
other told how he had wondered much
that one so delicate Us she could be so
bold; how she had never feared to- enter
the church alone at night but had loved
to linger there when all was quiet, aud
even to climb the tower stair. with no more
light than the moons rays stealing through
the loopholes in :hc thick old wall
A whisper went about among the old
est there that she had seen and talked
with angels; and when they called to
mind how she had looked aud spoken.
and her early death. some thought it
might be so indeed. Thus coming to
the grave in little knots aud glancing
down. and giving place to others, and
falling off in whispering groups Of three
or fear. the church was cleared in time
Of all but the sexton and mourning friends.
They saw the vault covered and the
stone fxcA down. Then when the dusk
'ot evening fad come en-. aud not sound
disturbed tie stiffness Of the place-when
the bright moon poured in her light on
tomb and monument. on pillar. vale and
arch, and most of all Git seemed to them)
upon her quiet grave-in that calm time,
when all outward things and inward
thoughts TEEN with assurance Of immor-
tality, and worldly hopes and fears are
humbled in the dust before them--then,
with humble and submissive hearts they
turned away, and left the child with
God.
o! 1t is hard to take to heart the
lesson that such deaths will teach; but
let no man reject it, for it is one that all
must learn, and is a mighty, universal
truth. When death strikes down the
innocent and young, for every fragile
form from which he lets the painting spir-
it free, n hundred virtues rise, in shapes
Of mercy. charity, and love, to walk the
earth and bless it with their light. OF
every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on
such green graves. some good is born,
some gen.ler nature comes. In the de-
stroyer's steps there spring up bright ere
ations that defy his power. and his dark
path becomes way Of ligh. to heaven
Old Curiosity Shop.