Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-02-21
A COMMON DELUSION.
From The Waoerly Progress, by j. l..
LODGE, d. D., Editor.

One OF the most morbid weaknesses OF hu
man nature is its cherished hope that gener-
Gus. remembrance ola career will survive its
earthly ending. That graves will be kept
green, and eptaphs renew their egibility
through watchful removal Of accumulating
moss. That the mild beaming of the eye,
the strong grasp of the hand the loving
testimony Of the lips, the devoted service OF
a life, are things which must perpetuate
themselves in the memory of former friends
and associates Those who have perused
the account Of the funeral of poor Mrs.
Dombey recall description which tallies
almost exactly with universal observation
and experience "fhat small word"-Dom-
bey's famly-"!ike the great one out Of doors,
had the capacity of easily forgetting its
dead and when the cook had said she was
a qulet-tempered lady, and the hOusekeeper
had said it was the common lot, and the but
Ter had said who'd have thought it, and the
housemaid had said she couldn't hardly be-
leve it, and the footman had said it seemed
exactly like a dream, they had quite worn
the subject out, and began to think their
mourning was wearing rusty too" Gou
could hardly pect to present more amla-
BILE character thanth subject of this sketch,
even though, goaded by like tormentors,
you should desperately rouse all energies
to "make an effort" Visionary minds dwell
on the probability Of moral miracles
Damon and Pythias were singular couple !;
Jonathan and David not less 50, Why may
| not nature except in one more Instance, and
reproduce one more startling example? ?
| These instances were confined in their cir
| cumstances to life; the strength OF memory
was not guaged no test OF its retentlve
| faculty touching transactions forever sealed
by the all.inclusive grave was made. Many
/ Il ht1t mill NlNa4T
member? My poor deluded friend Do you
see yon funeral procession? 1t drags its slow
| length along like a wounded, toiling snail.
! At the sepulchre few signs fall, but not so
heavy as the shovelfuls Of earth on the poor
| still breast down there. It's all over now
decently done. The carriages start quick
trot home-to business, TO pleasure, to the
world The conventional Grape will encir-
Gle the hat, some female relatives will wear
mourning prettily made up-if black is be-
coming. It will not last; it is not in human
nature. Genuine affection cannot yield itself
long to debiitating grief. Necessity super
venes to turn the black current, and divert
the mind to projects and exertion TOR the
preservation of the living. Hate perishes,
obliterated by death waves which swept
away its object He is gone. hated him,
but he is gone let him and my hate rest.
l am not inquiring into the C0nststency OF
such mental state, but only affirming a
familiar fact)
1t is no small consolation that all this fol-
lows an eternal law. That it is as neces-
sary as it is natural. The world is not dead
because we are. The sun shines gloriously
the stars emit their mysterious, fascinating
light; the moon sails grandly along hel
fiood-way Of silently.speaking worlds eartL
renews her glut Of generous gifts; all nature
reason, religion, which are the thought oi
God articulate, recalls to the original be
nevolent intention See, here are your prlvi-
leges, duties; use the good things OF thli
world as not abusing them, remembering
what you learned yesterday from The
preacher-lips of that deep, dark death
cavern that the fashion OF this world passett