Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-25
The Old Churchyard in Vassal-
bOrO'.

| SAD NEGLECT OF THESE SACRED PLACES.
| In turning over the leaves of old scrap book
a few days since my eyes fell upon short article
entitled Country Gravcyards, and upon reading
| it'll found so many practical truths embodied in so
short a compass that it has awakened anew a sub
ject which has often in times past occupied my
mind, and upon which have frequently resolv ed
to speak through the columns of the Journal. The
article which attracted my attention was published
| in the columns of the Maine Farmer several years
ago, and was written by gentleman now resi-
dent of Cambridge, but who was born aud passed
his early days in the
ANCIENT Town OF VAssALBoRo',
which with pride name as my own birth place
and the scene Of my early life. Through all the
changes with which this life is attended have re-
| vered the memory of that ancient town. and !
love even the churchysrds within her borders
and have been panied to think how they have
been neglected and allowed to fall into decay. at
is notorious fact" writes this gentleman of Cam
bridge, THAT the people in the country seldom
visit the graves of their dead however dear they
may have been. | speak from experience, and
know It's so. Take for example the burying-
ground of the
OLD UNION CHURCH
on the kennebec. There you will find desolation
and decay complete. Here under pail of rank
| sunlight never comes. There are numerous marble
slabs marking the spot where lie the remains Of
| many dear one but forest of weeds and mpen-
etrable wild bushes hide all. There, in many
places, instead Of mounds are cavities, caused in
| hastily filling up the graves. There is horror
connected With country graveyard which keeps
US away" What is true of one section is also true
| Of another. Vassalboro is not alone in this re-
| spect. During the past summer | have visited
nearly all the principal Western and some of the
| southern States, and | find
| The SAME SAD NEGLECT
through these sections as characterizes my owl
native State. During my travels of more thar
| four thousand miles, / failed to see a we-kep
country graveyard, while along my journey
| through the more enlightened sections noted
marked and radical change for the better in this
respect. Every little village and hamlet had il
neat and wel-kept churchysrd.
The GRASS IS KEPT SHoRN,
the headstones are 10 their proper places, and Low
| ing hands had planted shrubs and flowers on the
| mounds over the remains Of those whom they still
| loye-whose memory is kept green. While on my
journey | could not but contrast these kind ser
vices 10 the memory of the departed, with what
found on every hand through the sparsely settled
districts Of the country towns. There isl
sUPERsrIrIoUs HORROR
associated with these sacred spots among the low,
CT and less educated classes. The love which bind,
father, mother, brother, sister, husband wife, OF
friend no less sacred in the less enlightened
| classes, but somehow they seem to
BURY THEIR RFspFCT
| when the coffin lid is closed over the fac IS oil
hose they love; for they have dread, -asd il
may be, and doubtless is, a sacred, dread % ev
erything associated with death.
| "rhe minstrel throws the wild harp DOM;
IL hath no mus ic now;
| The maiden twiEes Il cypress crown
| To deck her fading brow.
| And brightest eyes have wept for thee
| And fOndesI hearts have bled,
| And sad and Wild the dirge shall be,
For thou art with the dead"
They allow the tails weeds 10 grow and mature
10 the soil over the graves of the loved and lost
and shun the churchyard as place associated on
ly with superstitious horror. Ii these peoTla
would abandon the superstitious ideas which have
been part of their nature from time immemorial
and bring their minds up to broader and mo Z