The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-29
They did not know that she was dead at
first - ~ -.

Ana now the bell-the BELL she had so
often heard by night and day.and listen
ed to with solemn pleasure almost as a
living yoice-rung its remorseless toll
for her, SO young, so beautiful, so good.
Decrepit age, and vigorous e,and help
less infancy, poured forth-on clutch
es, in the pride of health and strength, in
thefull blush Of promise, in the mere
dawn of 1life-to gather round her tomb
Old men were there Whose eyes were
dimet and senses failing Agrandmoihers
who might have died ten years ago and
still been oldAthe deaf, Ithe blind, the
laaae, the palsid, the living dead in many
shapes and FORMS to see the closing of
that early grave. What was the death it
would shut in, to that which still would
crawl and creep above itp sss HgI
Along the crowded path they bore her
now; pure as the.newly fallen snow that
covered it, whose day on earth had been
fleeting. Under that porch where she
had sat, when heaven in its mercy
brought her to that peaceful spot, she
passed again, ,and the old church received
her in its quiet shade. sd
They carried her to one old nook
where she had many and many q time
sat musing, and laid their burden softly
on the pavement. The light streamed
on it through the colored window-a
window where the boughs of the trees
we're ever rustling in the summer, and
where the birds sang sweetly all day
long. With every breath of air that
stirred among these branches in the sun.
shine, some trembling, changing light
would fall upon her grave sll
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to
dust. Many young hand dropped its
little wreath; many a stifed sob was
heard-some-and they were not few
knelt down. All were sincere and truth
ful in their sorrow. g ssoer,
The service done, the ,mourners stood
apart, and the villagers closed round to
look into tie grave before the pavement
stone should be replaced. One called to
mind how he had seen her sitting on that
very spot, and how her book had fallen
on her lap and she was gazing with q
pensive face upon the sky. Another
told how lie had wondered much how
one so delicate as 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,an even
to climb the tower stair, with no more
light than the moons rays stealth ,
through the loop holes in the thick old
wall A whisper went about among the
Oldest there that she had looked and spo.
ken, and her early death. some thought
| it might be so indeed. Thus coming to
the grave in little knots and glancine
down, and giving place to Others, and fal
| ling off in whispering groups of three OF
fonr- the church was cleared tn time OF
all but the sexton and mourning friends
They saw the vault covered and the
stone fixed down. Then, when the dusk
of evening had dcome oh,and nota sound
disturbed the stiffness of the place
when the bright moon poured in her ligh,
on tomb and monument, on pillar, vale
and arch, and most of all (it seemed to
them upon her quiet grave-in that calm
time,w when all outward things and inward
thoughts teem'with assurances 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
Oh! it is 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 it is mighty, universal
truth. When death strikes down theiin
nocent and young,for every fragile form
from which be lets the painting spiri
free, a hundred, virtues rise, to shapes o
mercy, charity and love. to walk th'
earth and bless it with their light. O
every tear that sorrowiug mortals shet
on such green graves, some good is born
some gentlerl nature comes. In the de
stroyers steps there spring up bright ere
ations that defy his power, and his darl
path becomes way of light to heaven
old Curiosity Shop.