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Literary
May 2, 1857
The Weekly Columbian
Columbia, Tuolumne County, California
What is this article about?
A prose reflection on the sorrow of youthful death, contrasting the vibrancy of young life with its untimely end, and offering consolation through the soul's ascent to heavenly bliss, ending with a poetic quote.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Youthful Dead.
How deeply grieved to behold even those who are bowed with age, whom time had robbed of their youthful flowers—bid adieu to life's pilgrimage, and sink away in the still darkness of the mouldering tomb. But ah! what a pall of sorrow is thrown over our hearts, when the death bell tolls the requiem of the young, the beautiful, the loved.
A pure freshness like the dawn of spring fills their joyous spirits, and life opens brightly to their admiring gaze.—The sky is clothed with all its glorious splendor, while hope encircles them with its cheering smiles, enchanting the eye with scenes of beauty. How painful then, to break the vision, to consign the lifeless form to earth's embrace—to leave them in their narrow home, with the cold sod resting on their breasts. Yet thus it is with life. We behold youth, ere it is chilled by time, sinking in the waves of death and passing away ere the years of darkness have shed their autumnal mildew on the fair cheek. But, mourner, suppress the burning tear, and turn thy pensive eye upward to the clear blue sky, and watch the spirit wing its flight to realms of bliss. All is well with him now. He has escaped the gloom of earthly sorrow—the clouds that would rive day by day have rolled gradually over the spirit—the gloom that follows the bright dawn of youth ere the light of life begins to fail and fade. He has missed all those, and his innocent spirit is now at rest in a far better land, where his soft voice mingles in the heavenly song, and his fingers sweep o'er the strings of an angel's lyre, in praise of Him who hath washed us in His own blood and made us kings and priests unto God.
Then mourn not for the young, but let us say with the poet, "better that the light cloud should fade away in the morning's breath, than travel through the weary day, to gather in darkness and end in storm."
How deeply grieved to behold even those who are bowed with age, whom time had robbed of their youthful flowers—bid adieu to life's pilgrimage, and sink away in the still darkness of the mouldering tomb. But ah! what a pall of sorrow is thrown over our hearts, when the death bell tolls the requiem of the young, the beautiful, the loved.
A pure freshness like the dawn of spring fills their joyous spirits, and life opens brightly to their admiring gaze.—The sky is clothed with all its glorious splendor, while hope encircles them with its cheering smiles, enchanting the eye with scenes of beauty. How painful then, to break the vision, to consign the lifeless form to earth's embrace—to leave them in their narrow home, with the cold sod resting on their breasts. Yet thus it is with life. We behold youth, ere it is chilled by time, sinking in the waves of death and passing away ere the years of darkness have shed their autumnal mildew on the fair cheek. But, mourner, suppress the burning tear, and turn thy pensive eye upward to the clear blue sky, and watch the spirit wing its flight to realms of bliss. All is well with him now. He has escaped the gloom of earthly sorrow—the clouds that would rive day by day have rolled gradually over the spirit—the gloom that follows the bright dawn of youth ere the light of life begins to fail and fade. He has missed all those, and his innocent spirit is now at rest in a far better land, where his soft voice mingles in the heavenly song, and his fingers sweep o'er the strings of an angel's lyre, in praise of Him who hath washed us in His own blood and made us kings and priests unto God.
Then mourn not for the young, but let us say with the poet, "better that the light cloud should fade away in the morning's breath, than travel through the weary day, to gather in darkness and end in storm."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Youthful Death
Mourning Youth
Heavenly Bliss
Spiritual Consolation
Poetic Elegy
Literary Details
Title
The Youthful Dead.
Subject
Mourning The Death Of The Young
Form / Style
Prose Reflection On Mortality
Key Lines
But Ah! What A Pall Of Sorrow Is Thrown Over Our Hearts, When The Death Bell Tolls The Requiem Of The Young, The Beautiful, The Loved.
Watch The Spirit Wing Its Flight To Realms Of Bliss.
His Innocent Spirit Is Now At Rest In A Far Better Land, Where His Soft Voice Mingles In The Heavenly Song, And His Fingers Sweep O'er The Strings Of An Angel's Lyre, In Praise Of Him Who Hath Washed Us In His Own Blood And Made Us Kings And Priests Unto God.
Then Mourn Not For The Young, But Let Us Say With The Poet, "Better That The Light Cloud Should Fade Away In The Morning's Breath, Than Travel Through The Weary Day, To Gather In Darkness And End In Storm."