Thorburn Martin, the young widow of Thomas R. Henderson, died 6th May, 1865, aged 24. To the many gallant soldiers commemorated in the Cemetery Captain Joseph H. Butler has to be added, a tablet appearing to him at the corner of the wall. He was the third son of John Butler, of Kirby House, Berkshire, served in the 49th Madras Native Infantry, and died at Kirkmahoe 23rd August, 1859, aged 40. THE WEST WALL. Two other military men, both members of the distinguished M'Murdo family, have their names preserved on an imposing edifice at the beginning of the west wall on the north. It is of Gothic design, the pediment displaying an heraldic escutcheon with the motto "Omnia pro bono.” Bryce Baird M'Murdo, one of the deceased, after acting as Colonel of the 8th Foot Regiment, spent his closing years at Mavis Grove, but as Colonel Commandant of the Dumfriesshire Yeomanry still giving the district the benefit of his military skill and experience. He died 11th September 1838, aged 65. The other, John James M'Murdo, served for a while in India as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 45th Madras Native Infantry; he officiated afterwards as Colonel Commandant of the Scottish Borderers, under whom that militia regiment began to acquire the high reputation, which has since been still further increased by his successor, Colonel Walker of Crawfordton. The deceased officer departed this life at Mavis Grove 16th December, 1867, aged 63; a fall from his horse, which occurred about two years previously, being, it is believed, the proximate cause of his demise. Of a zealous rural missionary, whose delight it was to scatter the Gospel seed over a wide home-field, by highway or hillside, we find trace on a little headstone, humble and unpretentious like the good man it commemorates. The inscription upon it is in the following terms: "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. David M. Gillespie, son of the late Rev. John Gillespie, minister of Kells, who died in Dumfries 4th Oct., 1859, aged 72 years. A man of unblemished character and liberal theological education, well-known in Dumfriesshire and Gal loway, where at various stations he for upwards of 20 years preached the Gospel." Two other monuments, much more imposing, are met with as we proceed along the wall: one in memory of James Mitchell, Bankhead of Dalswinton, died 10th March 1859, aged 51; another, erected by Robert M'Burnie, mason, to commemorate a young son and daughter, named respectively Charles Smith, aged 3, and Elizabeth, aged 2: the stone also bears his own name, with the intimation that he died at Georgetown, 29th October 1866, aged 35. A neat little headstone stands near by in memory of Catherine Shiells, wife of James Stewart, governor of the Dumfries Prison, died 14th May 1863; also a small headstone to commemorate James Forrester, for many years in the Ordnance department of Halifax, Nova Scotia, died at Kingholm Cottage, 23d March 1859, aged 67; and another, erected by William Colquhoun, china merchant, in memory of his wife, Isabella Tedcastle, died 5th September 1866, aged 38, with two of their children, John, aged 3, and Jane, aged 6; further on is the burial ground of John Thomson, baker, where he lies with six of his children-Janet, Jane, Elizabeth, Margaret, William, and John-all of whom died young, the tasteful headstone over them bearing the following lines: Dear is the spot where Christians sleep, They are not dead, but gone before." Other headstones commemorate the following: Anne, daughter of Richard Smith, Deacon of the Weavers, died 13th February 1874, aged 82; William Corrie, Maxwelltown, died 10th January 1862, aged 76, with Annie Dinwiddie, his spouse; Anne, aged 5, her infant twin sister, and another infant, children of David Anderson; Sarah Johnstone, died 17th December 1864, aged 58, with an infant granddaughter; Janet Turner, grocer, died 4th July 1866, aged 79. 1 Near the entrance, there is a very handsome monument erected over the family ground of Mr. Williani Craig, solicitor; and next to it another not less graceful marks the Ꮓ property of another professional gentleman, Mr. John Symons. Both plots are tenanted by youthful sleepers hushed to rest before being called upon to face the trials of maturer life. The first monument, designed by Mr. Barbour, architect, displays a profusion of bold, rich, scroll work, in the Elizabethan style, with monogram, and commemorates William Craig, died in infancy, Margaret Laurie, died when 15, and Jessie Susan, when fully a year older. On the pediment of the other structure is seen a seated figure with palm branch, representing Faith, and below it the names Elizabeth Symons, who died at the age of 4, and of James Symons, died at the age of 10. Faith as personified is the most suitable object that can be thought of for placing upon a tombstone. Campbell thus apostrophises Hope : "Daughter of Faith awake, arise, illume The dread unknown, the chaos of the tomb." T WO parallel sections stretching from west to east, having a road between them, and crossed by narrower pathways, occupy the field. Proceeding along the various walks we glance at the headstone memorials nearly two hundred in number, which rise up on every side, some of them very graceful, many neat, though with a sprinkling of others sufficiently plain. The grave plots along the walls already visited, are for the most part neatly kept, but the same cannot be said of the interior sections. In only a small minority of instances does the turf that covers the dwelling places of the dead appear to be tended with reverential care by surviving relatives, and, generally speaking, the footpaths which ought to be nicely gravelled, are encroached upon by weeds and grass. Signs of neglect are only too visible, a circumstance which is all the more to be regretted, seeing that as the ground is regularly bisected, it could easily be kept in good order, and no sufficient reason exists why it should not wear the aspect of a beautiful necropolis. There is every likelihood, we understand, that a portion of the next surplus realised from the sale of layers will be applied by the Churchyard Managers towards this object; and meanwhile private individuals who have acquired a proprietary interest in the ground, and have an interest in it besides that is due to higher considerations, might do much in the way of placing it, and keeping it, in an improved condition. The memorial stones of these inner sections tell of many great griefs in connection with tiny mounds whose innocent inmates have been torn away from the parental embrace. Of bitter tears shed, of keen anguish experienced, of fond hopes blighted, we can, when passing along, without the aid of fancy, find abundant trace; but if the agony of bereaved fathers and mothers be peculiarly intense, the consciousness that what is their temporary loss is everlasting gain to the departed little ones supplies a well-spring of consolation that can never run dry or get exhausted. The language of their hearts, even when the dark clouds of sorrow encompass them, can still be in keeping with the subjoined address : Thou hast fled, little one, to a far-off land, Unseen by mortal eye; To its borders brought by an angel band, Dread Fear, and sceptic Doubt say No! They need not point to the darksome tomb, "Tis a spot to me of dread and doom; It has prisoned my flower of beauty and bloom And yet I can say with a voice of cheer, For the spirit "that smiled in his sweet blue eye" He has laid his clay-wrought raiment by, This is the lot of my lovely child. Then speak no more of the grave's decay, And tell me not of the mouldering clay- To think that the secret subtle chain, The earth to earth and the dust to dust, This is my confidence and trust, That the spirit I claimed in my fair-haired boy, Still lives to be mine in the realms of joy. Those of our readers who have known what it is to be as Rachel weeping for her children because they were not, will thank us perhaps for quoting a pregnant remark by the late Rev. Dr. Fletcher, before proceeding further with our |