Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-04-15


,,uch OF the pathway OF life is covered n
40 with thorns. We ought 20 cover the g
hcrsnning with orange blossoms a
Flowers are appropriate on such oc-
caSions. for I'm ninetv-nine out Of hun
5-oa cases il is the very best thing that T
could have happened. The world may 5
.,s,ieise and pronounce IL an iuapu- q
,,,de and NAV lift IT'S eyebrows in sur
prise and think IL might suggest some
ching better. but the God who sees the
20. %. 50 years of welded life before
they have begun arranges for the best.
So that flowers in almost all cases are
appropriate for the marriage day. The
divergences Of disposition will become
correspondence. recklessness viii be
come prudence. frivohty viii be turned
into practicahty.
There has been many an aged Wild I
owed soul who had a carefully-loeked /
bureau. and In the bureau a box. and IN /
tho box a folded paper, and IN the I
folded paper a half-blown rose, slight
II fragrant discolorcd. carefully
rressed. She put "a there 40 or 30 years
a,-o. On the anniversary dav OF her
wedding she viii 20 20 the bureau. she
uaper. and 20 her ewes will he exposed
tbe balf-biovvu bud. and the memories
OF the past will rush upon her. and
tear will drop upon the flower, and SUD
denly a is transSgurcd. and there is
stir in the dust of the onther, and ~
rounds out. and 10 is fun Of life. and 30
begins to trcmble iu the procession up
the church aisle. and the dead music ot
a half century ago comes throoolng
through the mir. and vanished ac,s t,-
appear. and right hands are joined. and
a manly voice promises. 81 viii, Tor
better or for worse" and the wedding
march thunders "A salvo of JOY az the
departinr crowd. but a sigh on that
. anniversarv dav scatters the scene Tn
der the decp-fetchcd brcg IN the altar
the flowers. the congratulatng groups
T are scattered. and there is nothing let'
7 hut a trembling hand holding a fade'
rosebud. which is put into the pope'
j. and then into the box. aud the box care
p fully placed in the bureau. and with
= sharp. sudden click OF the lock the seem
is over.
All. my friends. let not the prophecie
4 OF the flowers on your wedding day b
n false prophecies BE blind 20 each oti
e. er's faults. Make the most % each OIL
n er's .xceIlencfes. Remember the vow
ie the ring ON the third finger OF the le
al hand. and the benediction OF the cal
al lilies
ie II YOU ask me the question. "Wh'
p are flowers good for?'' / answer. th'
Of are good 20 honor and comfort the o
y seouies. The worst cash ever made in
ne the side OF our poor earth is the ga
er OF the grave. IL is SO deep. 10 Us
n cruel. il is SO incurable. that 10 nee
To- something 60 cover IL ap. Flowers Z
IN the casKct. flowers for the hear
MT flowers for the cemetery. What "A CO
IN. trast between a grave in count
or churchvard. with the fence brok
'or down and the tombstone aslaut and
al, neighborinv cattle browsing amid
IN. mullen stalks and the Canada thistl
he and June morning in Greenwood.
he wave Of roseate bloom rolling 20
he top OF the mounds and then breoki
len into foau,ing crests OF white flowers
lis around the pillows OF dust II -
es- difference between sleeping under n
We and under an embroidered blanket.
< / want old Mortality with his chisel %
bod through all the graveyards in Christ
are dom. and while he carries chisel
one hand we want old Mortality TO h
are some flower seed in the palm of
tial other hand.
yht. oh" YOU say. ''the dead don't kr'
to- IL makes no difference 70 them
ap- think YOU are mistaken. There are
Sith so many steamers and trains comm
b 20 any living city as there are con'
est, coming from Heaven 20 earth, an
raw there be instantaneous and cons'
-ead communication between this world
eled the better world. do you not supl
ity. your departed friends know what
ard do with their bodies? Why has
raSs planted golden-rod and wild tOwei
more the forest and on the prairie, wher
Men human eve ever sees them? He pia
take them there for invisible intelhge
long 20 look at and admire, and whel
er of visible intelligences come 70 loo
rney the wild flowers OF the woods anS
ey Of table lands. will they not make e.
rest sion and see the flowers which
you have planted in affection and rer
oman brance OF them9
Z ex- When I am dead / would like 20
- but a handful of violets-anyone
YOU. pluck them out OF the grass. or
ities. one could lift from the edge Of the
E. II a water lily--noth;ng Harely expeI
ass Of no insane display, as sometimes
you. neral rites, where the display take
? lie bread from the children's mouth
the clothes from their backs bat 1
- had thing from the great democrac