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Roger Malvin's Burial
Bidhertohavenohardthoughtsbecauseyouleftmehere,"—Reuben’sheartsmotehim,—"forthatyourlifewouldnothaveweighedwithyouifitssacrificecouldhavedonemegood.Shewillmarryyouaftershehasmournedalittlewhileforherfather;andHeavengrantyoulongandhappydays,andmayyourchildren’schildrenstandroundyourdeathbed!And,Reuben,"addedhe,astheweaknessofmortalitymadeitswayatlast,"return,whenyourwoundsarehealedandyourwearinessrefreshed,—returntothiswildrock,andlaymybonesinthegrave,andsayaprayeroverthem."
Analmostsuperstitiousregard,arisingperhapsfromthecustomsoftheIndians,whosewarwaswiththedeadaswellastheliving,waspaidbythefrontierinhabitantstotheritesofsepulture;andtherearemanyinstancesofthesacrificeoflifeintheattempttoburythosewhohadfallenbythe"swordofthewilderness."Reuben,therefore,feltthefullimportanceofthepromisewhichhemostsolemnlymadetoreturnandperformRogerMalvin’sobsequies.Itwasremarkablethatthelatter,speakinghiswholeheartinhispartingwords,nolongerendeavoredtopersuadetheyouththateventhespeediestsuccormightavailtothepreservationofhislife.ReubenwasinternallyconvincedthatheshouldseeMalvin’slivingfacenomore.Hisgenerousnaturewouldfainhavedelayedhim,atwhateverrisk,tillthedyingscenewerepast;butthedesireofexistenceandthehopeofhappinesshadstrengthenedinhisheart,andhewasunabletoresistthem.
"Itisenough,"saidRogerMalvin,havinglistenedtoReuben’spromise.
