FOR THE LITCHFIELD ENQUIRER. THE DEPARTED.
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How mournfuly the sounds of the tolIing bell fal upon the ear, especially when the knel is for a de | parted friend Slowly and soemnly the deep tone: rang out from the tower of the church, on the day we celebrated the birth of our Saviour and announced us that the spirit of another of ears lovely ones had returned to Him who gave it. She is gone! what a feeling of desolateness comes over the mind as the painful truth forces itself upon us-gone in the morn ing and spring-time of being! While her young com. panons were assembled in the house of God, on Christmas eve, to enjoy the festivities of the season and to mlngle their voices with the pealng notes of the organ, in the songs of praise and thanksgiving her spirit trembling on the confines of the eterna world. Bot even that chamber of sorrow was illu- mined with the glory of the Star of Bethlehem and it's bright beams were then gliding her passage through the dark valley of death. A few short months since and her graceful form moved among us the bloom of the rose was upon her check and her dark eyes brilliant with joy and hope. Who though, that she was to be 90 soon the victim of the destroyer? Sad and affecting it was to that young being meek y and calmly descending to the tomb, surrounded with every thing to make life attractve-education and the advantages of refined socety-all that afec- ton and prayer could do, could not restrain the ap- proach fthe invisible enemy; he came and left the impress of his icy finger upon her brow and sealed her beautiful lips in deah It is past We have gazed for the last time those features, lovely even in death; we have followed and laid her remains be- meath the pure nnspotted snow, in the silent church. yard and while think of her leless form in the cold and narrow grave, imagination pictures 10 our view her spirit in that better world, which we cannot describe-but there, we know, for the good all is bright and beautiful, and pain, sorrow and death are known no morc

 At evenings calm and silent hour,

 When thoughts and fances wander free,

 Movd by some kind resistess power,

 Sweet spirit we will think of thee!

 When light unveils the eastern skies,

 And morning breaks OCT earth and sea

 With sadden'd hearts and fearful eyes,

 Sweet spirit! we will think of thee

 When spring returns with op'ning flow'rs,

 And songs are heard from every tree;

 Then, in those brigh. and joyous hours,

 Sweet spirit we will think of thee!

 Farewells though in the silent tomb

 They laid thee in life's early morn

 Hope tells ofyet brighter bloom,

 Where. gentle spirit, thou art gone!

 And when, by contemplation led,

 Our footsteps press the sacred sod,

 There. while the starting tear is shed,

 We'll hope like thee, to meet our God Litchfeldy December, 1941. H. M B.