The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-08-26
forget-and clung with, both her arms
about his neck. They did not know that
she was dead at first, % '+


And now the bell-the bell she had so
often heard by night and day, and lis
tened TO with solemn pleasure almost as
livin g voiceAfang its remorseless toll
for her, so young,so beautiful, so good.
Decrepid ge,aand vigorous life, and
blooming youth and helpless infancy,
poured forth-on crutches, in the pride
of strength and health, in the full blush
Of promise, in the mere dawn Of lite
to gather round her tomb Old rien
were there whose ewes were dim and SEM
ses failing-grandmothers who might
have died ten years ago and still been
old-the deaf, the blind. the lame, the
palsied, the living dead in many shapes
and forms, to see the closing of that
early grave What was the death it
would shut in, tolthat which could still
crawl and creep above it'll aualagg,] 81
Along the crowded path they bore her
now pure as the newly fallen snowIthat
covered it, Iwhose day on earth has been
as feeting. Underithat porch where she
sat when heaveninG its mercy brought
her to that peaceful spot, she passed
! again, and the old church received her
in its quiet shade. a5ita9 nj bat9sga 20 q
They carried her to- one old nook
where she had many and many a time
sat niusing, and iaiditheiri burden qsofdv
on the pavement. The light sstrealhed
omit through the colored ;window+4sa
window where the boughsR Of the 1trees
were ever rustling in the summer,i anu
the birds sang sweetly all day long,
With every breath rof air that stirred
among those branches in the Sunshine,
some trembling, changing light would
fall upon her grave s1od nolsno a1fallt
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to
dust. Many young hand dropped its
| little wreath manya'a stifed sob was
heard someAand they were not few
knelt.down.1A All were sincere and truth
| ful in their sorrow. 8st te e.5 tfa .7In
The service done, the moumers stood
apart and the villagers closed round to
look into the grave before the pavement
stone should be replaced. One called to
mind how he had sean her sitting on that
very spot, and how her book had fallen
in her lap and she was gazing with a
pensive face upon the sky. Another
told how he had wondered much that
one SO delicate as she could be so bold !;
how she had never feared to enter the
church alone at night, bu. had loved to
linger there when all was quiet,and even
to climb the tower stair, with no more
| light than the moons rays stealing
through the loopholes in the thick old
wall. A whisper went about among the
oldest there that she had seen and talked
with angels; and when they called to
mind how she had looked and spoken,
and her early death, some thought it
Efnightbes SO indeed. Thus. coming to
the grave in little knots and glancihg
down, and giving place to Others and
falling off in whispering groups of three
or four, the church was cleared in time
of all but the sexton and mourning
friends. a'f ~ rl's ~
They saw the vault covered and the
stone fixed down. Then, when the dusk
Of evening had come on, and not 8
sound disturbed the stiffness of the place
when the bright moon poured in hel
light on tomb and monument, on pillar
vale and arch, and most Of all (it seem
ed to them upon her quiet grave--ir
that calm time, when all outward things
and inward thoughts teen with assuran
ces of immortality, and worldly hopes
and fears are humbled in the dust before
them then, with humble and suhnis
siveI hearts, they turned away and lief
the child with God. !, }.a siiia Il ,eju9io
.YOh! iuis hard to take to heart the les,
son that such deaths will teach; but lei
no man reject it, for it is one that al
must learn, and is almighty, universe
truth. When death strikes down the in
nocent and young.S from every fragile
form from Which he lets 'ithe painting
spirit free,s hundred virtues rise, il
shapes of mercy,a charity. and love, tt
! walk the earth and bless it with thei
i light. Of, every tear; that sorrowins
mortals shed on such green graves, ,som.
good is born, some agentler nature comes
| In the lestroyers steps there, spring VI
4 bright creations that defy his power, ,ane
his darkspath becomes away of light tc
heaven.-Old Curiosity Shop. go