A few short struggles and the scene was o’er,
Death with his victim flew above the skies;
I shall thro’ life her absence oft deplore,
Till recollection from my memory flies.
The humble cottagers their Mistress bore,
To her cold home each face bedew’d with tears;
She to her mansion to return no more,
For death has silenc’d all her hopes and fears.
Oh! had you seen my good and worthy sire,
In sorrow’s garment his last duty pay;
To her whose virtues did esteem acquire,
Or ease the troubles of a luckless day.
Two sorrowing sons increas’d the gloomy day,
Who will while life remain her loss deplore;
Till recollection from them fade away,
Or erring mortals here do sin no more.
Each little mourner drop’d affection’s tear,
When dust on dust the coffin hid from view;
Their youthful sighs denoted their despair,
When they of Grandma’ bid a long adieu.
thoughts on passing through
a
CHURCH-YARD.
I’ve pac’d the sacred yard, oh death! thy sting,
Expunge from earth the beggar and the king;
A marble monument, a stone foretell,
The characters below, here acted well:
Each grave a warning give, and yet we see,
Few strive to gain a bless’d eternity:
Kindred and neighbours with departing sigh,
Cry, write o’er me, ‘remember all must die!’
Can we these warnings with indifferance view,
And still a life of guilt and sin pursue.
So frail our natures that at times we pray,
At church at morn, yet sin the after day;
Much shall we tremble, when the trumpets sound,
To call us to our God with Angels round.
There shall we tottering hear the just decree,
Of him alone, who can all spirits free:
How oft we find when sickness brings distress,
We wish our sufferings and our crimes were less;
It is our crimes that most our anguish brings,
And paint grim death, with all his bitter stings,
Then erring man if happiness you crave,
Repent and sin no more this side the grave.
on the death
of
MR. CHARLES SAVORY.
When fortune smil’d, his friendly care
Was to relieve distress;
And ease the wretched in dispair,
Or make their troubles less.
When to him misfortune stray’d,
No brothers gave relief;
To assist the man each seem’d afraid,
Or ease the brow of grief.
A trifling pittance neighbours say,
The elder B---r sent;
Not half enough in life’s decay,
To pay his nurse and rent.
From his misfortunes well its known,
Their anger did increase;
He wish’d his friend would make it known,
He died with all at peace.
Within the church beside his wife,
My friend’s remains are laid;
Remov’d from all the pangs of life,
Or B---s to upbraid.
Benevolence came forth with speed,
While pity went before;
Holding J. Barber’s hand to aid,
The man that’s now no more.
Oh Barber! such a heart as thine,
Are seldom found in man;
Thy generous deeds to endless time,
Will prove sweet comforts plan.
What proof thou gives of friendly care,
To take his orphan girl;
And dry the child’s fresh starting tear,
And from her grief to hurl.
Oh daughter of my late lov’d friend,
Religious guide pursue;
Till your last moments here do end,
Or tomb encompass you.