The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
"Heywood, you do yourself injustice. A steady course of life, as it
will remove the cause of your depression, (for your mental malady is
nothing more,) so will it the effect, and I feel confident that it
requires but exertion to regain all you have lost, and even to surpass
your former excellence. Come; be a man. Call your philosophy to your
aid--rouse from your lethargy, and start once more upon the race of
honor." He placed one hand upon my shoulder, and pointed forward with
the other: "Behold," he said, "yon blasted pine; its giant limbs have
been snapped in twain, and its lordly trunk clove from the summit to
the root by the forked lightning,--while around it in the green hues of
health, full of pride, vigor and beauty, are congregated its glorious
brethren of the forest. Bid that stricken tree drink in the life sap,
shoot out its rough red boughs, clothe them with their feathery
foliage, erect its noble crest, and stand once more pre-eminent in
loftiness and grace; and what would be its answer, as its shattered
body creaks to the passing breeze? 'There is no other spring for me.'
And that reply is mine. Therefore torture me no more; for it is torture
to me to recur to the past, or dwell upon the present. _One_ favor I
will ask of you. When I am dead, and I feel a certainty that time will
soon arrive, if you are near and survive me, bury me in some private
place, and do not raise even a mound, much less a stone, to mark the
spot; but let the grass grow over and conceal it--for even as lonely
and obscure as my latter days have been, so would I have my grave. Will
you promise me this?"
"I will--I do," I replied, much affected.
The remainder of our walk was passed almost in silence; and when
Heywood left me, which he did immediately upon our return to town, he
pressed my hand to his heart, and sobbed, "God bless you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account