New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-19
Az TDYL or NEWJERSEY.
FLOWERS ON 4 BLIND GIRLS CRAVE RE-
MIND THE VILLAGERS OF ETRA OF

ROMANCE OF BYGONE DAYS
Years ago there stood In picturesque spot in tho
little village OF Etra. y j.. an Old church SUR
rounded by its Gods acre" Its worshippers hav-
long since been gathered unto their fathers, and
OF the little church itself nothing remains to-day
but "A suggestion Of Its foundation. The little bury
irg-ground IS now surrounded by high spiked
iron fence and seldom is the gate unlocked TO
admit another sleeper, for those OF this genera
zion whose ancestors lie there have spaces reserved
in the larger cemetery in the town. with It's we'll
kept grass winding. gravelied walks and imposing
monuments
The crumbling brownstones which mark so many
Of the graves often bear inscriptions which mod
estly forth the virtues Of the dead others tell
of the occupation position IN life this for in
stance:
In memory Of Merbah, widow Of Joseph -.
Aged seyenty-hrec wears, and forty ninth Of MEM
borshp OF this church
For years labored in the Lord
bore the cross preached the word:
Ny body now lies in the ground
TIL the last trump Of God sinai. sound
Another reads:
Here lies ,ncosed n blooming youth.
Blesi once in health a. l.
His death repeats this solemn truth
The living know that they must die.
glance at another grave tells that widow had
buried two husbands who lie side by side. on the
stone Of the frat is the following
Ny head and stay Is taken away,
And ! am 1T alone,
NV husband. dear who was near
Is took away and gone.
must be still t. IS Gois will
That | am left alone.
Away down IN one is a little grave. I'M
roarkcd save by a common field stone at its head
and foot connected with which j. pathetic story
that the villagers tell about
Nearly half century ago all that was earthly
Of 4 sweet blind gri was here laid TO rest and.
though loved ana mourned by many. yet there vas
a nearer one still and a drarer ono yet than all
other" At that time one thought much about
open grave but hi, story has been revealed during
the years that he has put his weekly Offering OF
fresh. od-fashionea flowers on The little mound,
and his faithfulnes' has won Tor MIN not only tho
sympathy but the admiration. OF the villagers.
There stands within few rods OF the cemetery
a little Cd house. which has yielded itself 10 mould
and decay. For many years The only occupant or
this habtation has been the blind girls sweet
heart now Old man. VINO has NNed mere IN soil
rude so long that neghbors scarce Destow
thought upon him. But from his dooryard. across
directly 10 the burying- ground. stopping abruptly
an the iron fence just whore the blind girl rests on
the other side The fence may serve 10 keep out IN
,ruSers and prevent the invasion OF yandals but ~
cannot keep the love which has lain In that ed
mans heart al these years from regularly Placing
his tribute Of affection on that lonely little grave
The golden light from the afternoon sun streams i
down and touches the monument OF the rich girl
who lies near by with exquisite brilhancy. Hgnting
II as with hundred incandesceni nghts ana II
reflects Il radiance on all around, nut its snado"
10 grave rests At last where the Dllnd girl Sleeps
and when night fails tho graves OF the two girls,
one marked by all that wealth could procure, inc
other by the clusters OF od-fasnoned mowers, gain
cred by the feeble hand OF a withered Cd man. are
.olned by the span Of the monument shduoW anu
The little grave seems less lonely and forgotten