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1705037039
The service being ended, preparations were made to deposit the coffin in the earth. There was that bustling stir which breaks so harshly on the feelings of grief and affection
:directions given in the cold tones of business; the striking of spades into sand and gravel; which, at the grave of those we love, is, of all sounds, the most withering. The bustle around seemed to waken the mother from a wretched revery. She raised her glazed eyes, and looked about with a faint wildness. As the men approached with cords to lower the coffin into the grave, she wrung her hands and broke into an agony of grief. The poor woman who attended her took her by the arm, endeavoring to raise her from the earth, and to whisper something like consolation, “Nay, now, —nay, now, —don’t take it so sorely to heart!” She could only shake her head, and wring her hands, as one not to be comforted.
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As they lowered the body into the earth, the creaking of the cords seemed to agonize her; but when, on some accidental obstruction, there was a justling of the coffin, all the tenderness of the mother burst forth; as if any harm could come to him who was far beyond the reach of worldly suffering.
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I could see no more; my heart swelled into my throat, my eyes filled with tears; I felt as if I were acting a barbarous part, in standing by and gazing idly on this scene of maternal anguish. I wandered to another part of the churchyard, where I remained until the funeral train had dispersed.
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When I saw the mother slowly and painfully quitting the grave, leaving behind her the remains of all that was dear to her on Earth, and returning to silence and destitution, my heart ached for her. What, thought I, are the distresses of the rich! They have friends to soothe, pleasures to beguile, a world to divert and dissipate their griefs. What are the sorrows of the young! Their growing minds soon close above the wound;their elastic spirits soon rise beneath the pressure; their green and ductile affections soon twine round new objects. But the sorrows of the poor, who have no outward appliances to soothe; the sorrows of the aged, with whom life at best is but a wintry day, and who can look for no after-growth of joy; the sorrows of a widow, aged, solitary, destitute, mourning over an only son, the last solace of her years; —these are indeed sorrows which make us feel the impotency of consolation.
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Notes
1705037048
1705037049
congregated, accumulated; assembled.
1705037050
1705037051
moldering, overgrowing with mold, a minute fungus growth;moldering used in the sense of decaying, uncared for.
1705037052
1705037053
oaken paneling, thin, perhaps rectangular, board made of oak, set in a surrounding frame.
1705037054
1705037055
reverend, to be held in respect and esteem.
1705037056
1705037057
departed years, past ages; times gone by.
1705037058
1705037059
meditation, serious contemplation; reflection; close thought.
1705037060
1705037061
repose, quiet ; rest ; peace; tranquillity.
1705037062
1705037063
pensive, dreamily or somewhat sadly thoughtful; musing.
1705037064
1705037065
Nature, the Universe; the existing system of things in time and space.
1705037066
1705037067
charmed down, subdued by some secret power; allayed; assuaged;calmed; smoothed down.
1705037068
1705037069
natural religion, inborn feeling of piety.
1705037070
1705037071
frigidity, coldness.
1705037072
1705037073
pomp, love of display; show.
1705037074
1705037075
poor worms, poor creatures; the people worshiping in the church.
1705037076
1705037077
prostrate, powerless; lying at the mercy of God.
1705037078
1705037079
decrepit, broken down with age; weak; infirm; worn-out.
1705037080
1705037081
infirmities, weaknesses; feebleness of health.
1705037082
1705037083
abject, beggarly; sunk to a low and pitiful condition.
1705037084
1705037085
lingerings, remnants; something slow in disappearing.
1705037086
1705037087
scrupulously, implying the utmost nicety and exactness.
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