Alexandria Gazette

THE INVITATION.--We notice in a New York paper, the record of a lady's death followed by an invitation to a society, which does not admit females, to attend her funeral. We do not know the deceased; but, perhaps, all the gentler virtues clustered in her heart, and commended her to the love of those who are thus called to make public demonstration of grief at their loss. Charity, that greatest of virtues, that grows brighter with the sight of what it sought, and increases with enjoyment, was, perhaps, the distinguishing attribute of her character. And if this grace, and the thousand graces that hang around it, to make it more gracious, was the light of her home --if household virtues, that form the glory of a woman's character, distinguished her, and made her children rise up and call her blessed--if affection too, like the vine upon the fruitless tree, imparted grace to that upon which it depended, and made her husband praise her--those, surely, that loved him, and were knit to him in ties of friendship, might, when "he goeth unto the grave to weep there," sustain his step, uphold him when he takes his last look downward into the narrow home of his bosom's friend, and drop a tear of sympathy with him for her who has gone where sorrow and sighing are done away, and tears are wiped from the eyes.

It is good to go to the house of mourning, when such circumstances invite, and it may be proper to go in communion; for though in the visible congregation, she added directly nothing to its wisdom or its strength, yet, in the invisible communication, her sanctified virtues will impart beauty in that house not made with hands.

United States Gazette.