{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
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ly it may be ridculed, yet the attention in
voluntarily yielded to it whenever it is made
the subject OF serious discussion; its pre-
valence in all ages and countries, and even
among newly discovered nations, that have
had no previous Interchange of thought with
the other parts of the world. prove it to
be one of those mysterious, and almost in
stinctivc beliefs, to which, if left to ourselves,
we should naturally incline. -


at is more the manner, therefore, in,
which this superstition has been degraded
than its intrisc absurdity, that has brought
it into contempt.---Raise it above the fri
volous purposus to which it has been APP
piled: strip it of the gloom and horror with
which it has been surrounded, and there is
none of the whole circle OF visionary crecds
that could more delightfully."- elevate the inn
agination. or more tendcrly affect the heart.
1t would become sovereign comfort at the
bed of death, soothing the bitter tear wrung
from mus by the agony OF our mortal separation.
What could be more consoling than the idea,
that the souls of those whom we once loved
were permitted to return and watch over
our welfare? That affcctionata and guar
dian spirits sat by our pillows when we slept


keeping vigil ever our most helpless
hours That beauty and innocence which
had languishcd into the tomb, vet smiled un-
seen around us, revealing themselves in
those blest dreams wherein we live DER again
the hours of past endcarment a belief of
this kind would, | should think, be new
incentive to virtue; rendering us circum-
spect even in our most'secret moments, from
the idea that those who we once loved and
honored were invisible witnesses Of all our
actions.


!" 1t would take away, too from that lone
illness and destituton which we are apt to
feel more and more as we get on in our pill
grimage through the wilderness ofthis world,
and find those who set forward with lis, loy-
insly and chcerily, on the journey, have
one by one dropped away from our side
Place the superstition in this light, and
confess l should like to be believer in it. I
see nothing in itthat isincompatible with the
tender and merciful nature of our religion,
nor revolving to the wishes and affections OF
fhf heart ,.-Iryinr