“Why should we mourn
departing friends,
Or shake at death’s
alarms?”
was read and sung.
Once more the children were all together under the roof where they had often met; all save the son whose home was now in a sunnier clime. But how unlike was this to their last joyful gathering! Hours of rejoicing, and hours of mourning, ye are strangely blended in the experience of human hearts.
The little village burying-ground was not far distant. A grave was opened there, for him who but one short week ago was as full of life, of bounding vigor and of high hopes, as the strongest there.
“Oh, had it been but
told you then,
To mark whose
lamp was dim;
From out the ranks of these
young men
Would ye have
singled him?
“Whose was the sinewy
arm that flung
Defiance to the
ring?
Whose shout of victory loudest
rung?
Yet not for glorying.
“Whose heart in generous
thought and deed,
No rivalry could
brook?
And yet distinction claiming
not;
There lies he,—go
and look!
“Tread lightly, comrades!
we have laid
His dark locks
on his brow;
Like life, save deeper light
and shade,—
We’ll not
disturb them now!”
Of all who stood by that open grave, none wept so passionately as little Arthur. He could not control his emotions, and it was in vain that friends tried to soothe him. Poor child! did a sad presentiment of coming evil pass over his soul?
“Slowly and sadly they laid him down,” and “slowly and sadly” they returned home; that home now so vacant, so desolate! There let us leave them; sorrowing, but “not sorrowing as those without hope.” It is on just such scenes as these, that the light of Christian Faith shines with a pure and holy radiance, cheering the bereaved heart, and speaking sweet words of reunion, of immortality, of glory “which fadeth not away.”
CHAPTER VIII
MORE TRIALS.
The next day Arthur returned to Mr. Martin’s. His affectionate heart was saddened, and every pleasure seemed to have lost its charm. But the griefs of childhood quickly pass away; and Arthur in a few days became calm and cheerful. A close observer, however, might have seen a deeper shade of thoughtfulness in his eyes, and a softer tone in his always gentle voice. He went to school again, and mingled in