Withered Leaves from Memory's Garland eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 320 pages of information about Withered Leaves from Memory's Garland.

Withered Leaves from Memory's Garland eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 320 pages of information about Withered Leaves from Memory's Garland.
and a long train of relatives from whom he has been long separated.  Have they recognized each other?  O, bewildering thoughts, be still, and cease your restless longings; “secret things belong to God,” and “what we know not now we shall know hereafter.”  But now, while the soft winds of summer are gently sighing through the branches of the arbor vitae tree that stands at the head of the grassy mound that rises over the form of my buried husband, I see by his side, the spot where, in all human probability, this frame will soon be deposited, to sleep with him in death’s silent halls, even as I have journeyed with him through life.  ’Till then, let me turn to my mission, and endeavor by a faithful discharge of every duty, to prepare for that time, and strive by a holy life and godly conversation, to so influence my children, that they may all seek a city not made with hands eternal, and in the heavens.  And thus shall be answered my daily prayer, that we may be a united family in heaven.

So we returned to the house beneath the mild radiance of a Sabbath sun, to experience that awful void that death makes in the domestic circle to which so many bereaved hearts can respond.

Lines, Written upon the Young Who Have Recently Died in Our Village.

  Why are the young and beautiful
    Call’d so early to the tomb? 
  Death surely loves a shining mark,—­
    And sweetly feeds on youthful bloom!

  Go, wander in the place of graves,
    When softly steals the autumn’s sigh,
  And on the sculptured marble read,
    How many in life’s morning die.

  Beauty may bloom upon the cheek,
    And brightly sparkle in the eye;
  But soon the fatal hectic streak
    Proclaims that stealthy Death is nigh.

  Maria, by her mother’s side,
    So young, in Death’s dark chambers laid,
  And Lottie, soon to be a bride,
    Have seen earth’s fairest vision fade.

  A lovely vision floating fair,
    In Memory’s chambers now is seen,
  With sparkling eyes and glossy hair,
    A radiant brow, and gentle mien.

  She stole by fond and winning ways,
    Into many a loving heart;
  And with a sweet and childish grace,
    Well performed her little part.

  But death soon laid her beauty low,
    Like spring flowers fading on the stem,
  And, blighting all her youthful bloom,
    Laid Clara, mould’ring now with them.

  Dear Willie too, that child of prayer,
    So suddenly has pass’d away,
  And enter’d those bless’d mansions where
    All is bright, eternal day.

  Here, many a loving name is found,
    Of those who in life’s pathway trod;
  Who slumber now, beneath the mound,
    Their spirits summon’d to their God.

  Some by long disease confin’d,
    Have slowly wasted day by day;
  Health, strength and beauty—­all declin’d,
    And Youth’s bright visions pass’d away.

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Project Gutenberg
Withered Leaves from Memory's Garland from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.