PART III.

Qui vultus Acherontis atri,
Qui Stygia tristem, non tristis, videt,
. . . . . . . . . . . . 
Par ille Regi, par Superis erit. 
                     Seneca, Agamemnon.

BURIALS.

True Christian Resignation not frequently to be seen—­The Register a melancholy Record—­A dying Man, who at length sends for a Priest:  for what Purpose? answered—­Old Collet of the Inn, an Instance of Dr Young’s slow-sudden Death:  his Character and Conduct—­The Manners and Management of the Widow Goe:  her successful Attention to Business:  her Decease unexpected—­the Infant Boy of Gerard Ablett dies:  Reflections on his Death, and the Survivor his Sister-Twin—­ The Funeral of the deceased Lady of the Manor described:  her neglected Mansion:  Undertaker and Train:  the Character which her Monument will hereafter display—­Burial of an Ancient Maiden:  some former drawback on her Virgin Fame:  Description of her House and Household:  her Manners, Apprehensions, Death—­Isaac Ashford, a virtuous Peasant, dies, his manly Character:  Reluctance to enter the Poor-House; and why—­Misfortune and Derangement of Intellect in Robin Dingley:  whence they proceeded:  he is not restrained by Misery from a wandering Life:  his various returns to his Parish:  his final Return—­Wife of Farmer Frankford dies in Prime of Life:  Affliction in Consequence of such Death:  melancholy View of Her House &c. on her Family’s Return from her Funeral:  Address to Sorrow—­Leah Cousins, a Midwife:  her Character, and successful Practice:  at length opposed by Dr. Glibb:  Opposition in the Parish:  Argument of the Doctor; of Leah:  her Failure and Decease—­Burial of Roger Cuff, a Sailor:  his Enmity to his Family; how it originated:  his Experiment and its Consequence—­The Register terminates—­A Bell heard:  Inquiry for whom?—­The Sexton—­Character of old Dibble, and the five Rectors whom he served—­Reflections—­Conclusion.

There was, ’tis said, and I believe, a time
When humble Christians died with views sublime;
When all were ready for their faith to bleed,
But few to write or wrangle for their creed;
When lively Faith upheld the sinking heart,
And friends, assured to meet, prepared to part;
When Love felt hope, when Sorrow grew serene,
And all was comfort in the death-bed scene. 
   Alas! when now the gloomy king they wait,
’Tis weakness yielding to resistless fate;
Like wretched men upon the ocean cast,
They labour hard and struggle to the last;
“Hope against hope,” and wildly gaze around
In search of help that never shall be found: 
Nor, till the last strong billow stops the breath,
Will they believe them in the jaws of Death! 
   When these my Records I reflecting read,
And find what ills these numerous births succeed;
What powerful griefs these nuptial ties attend;