Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-12-08
Wearing Mourning for the Dead

gregallons Deaulllul CUSTOM OF an
nouncing the death of their members
from the steeple of the church editce,
not by the mournful tolling Of a bell,
but by discoursing sweet strains Of mu-
sic-grand choral associated in
the minds of the hearers with certain OF
their ancient hymns. which give clue
to the age, sex and condition of the de-
parted. Thus their tromEonists family
echo the anthems of joy that resound in
Heaven when another soldier of the
Cross has laid down his armor, the weap-
ons with which he waged unceasing war
fare 10 this world of sin, sorrow and
temptation, and fallen asleep in Jesus
until the resurrection morn, when he
shall wake in the newness of life and
strength, to find the strife indeed ended,
victory won, grief assauged, pain ban
ished, and tears forever wiped away.
And for such as these" the blessed
dead we clothe ourselves in the ha-
biliments of the deepest woe! For such
as these ,Oe moarn-for surely no tortured
heart would proclaim to the wide world
in despairing anguish over the cherries
graves of those who having lived with
out God in the world are now without
hope for the next.
at is not for the dead, but for our
selves, that we mourn" says q quiet
voice at my side,
But if that be the case, we ought more
unselfshly to contemplate the sweet rest
upon which they have entered, for " He
giveth his beloved sleep" Doubtless
the sable garments with which we robe
ourselves are in sad harmony with our
own stricken spirits, and foster and aug
ment the melancholy which we morbid.
! ly fancy would be unfeeling, nav, well
nigh sacreligious to cast off Yet if we
believe that " Our Father knows what
is best for us, as we'll as for those who
are resting from their labors, what righ
have we to grieve when SO many bless
ings still left us call for grateful reeog
nition? Nor should we thus blot out tht
sunshine of others, bringing added sad
ness to hearts that know their own bit
terness, 10y our sombre mood and dress.
4 When the father of the writer wal
nearing the close of the long and pain
full illness which terminated his careel
of usefulness, calling wife and child tC
him, he said:
When l am gone you will not wish
me back, know, for | shall be so mucE
better off; but neither must you weaI
gloomy mourning dresses. Wear thos'
in which | have known and loved you
{ they will serve to remind you pleasant,
of me"
t But" says one, we manifest ou
respect for the deceased by the change
in our attire. 1t would seem heartless
not to make it.
So argued poor old neighbor of mine
, twelve month ago, who, when her hus
band was released from the harrassin.
cares and anxieties which, godly MAJ
though he was, made his life burden
must needs show respect for his memor,
by thus funereally draping herself a
the expense of friends who were alread,
heavily taxed for the support of he
helpless young family They were fa
too generous to begrudge the outlay
f and yet | question whether any one wa
benefited thereby, for here arises anoth
er view of the subject Its effect upon
the health.
! All depressing influences are the re
verse of healthful. The quaint saying
of our grandmothers, that every sigl
, is nail in ones coffin" and the Scrip
tural statement that ga merry hear
! doeth good like medicine" are found
ed on truth and common sense. Hence
} whatever nourishes grief, and tends t,
, brooding melancholy. must inevitably
be injurious
| Nor is this all; there is in the yer,
nature of black something depressingl,
repellant-which is proved by the dis
taste manifested for it by little children
not yet trained to abnormal tastes anc
fancies. The edge of this innate aver
sion has, it is true, been worn off by oul
} familiarity with it as an article of com
mon wear among those who are not be
: reaved, but the fact Of its unfavorabl
effect yet remains-a room hung with
: black would be not only unhealthy, bu
uncomfortable and uncongenial to an,
one.
Does it not, then, behoove us person
: ally to abstain from the use of tn i
badge of sorrow and affiiction2 Whom
} shall we most honor, creature or Crea
/ tor? Shall we not sink selfish sadness
in the nobler consideration of the wei
fare of those still left to bless us, an,
: seek to promote the health Deedful Il
, make our lives blessing to Others, anc