RARE EPITAPHS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sra,—The majority, I had almost said the great majority, of the very interesting epitaphs which you have been printing from week to week, are to be found in " Jissington's Epitaphs,"- published by Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., in 1857. On the, title page is a quotation, which I should like to identify :— • " If we only loved our friends as well before They die as we do afterwards, What a beatific world this would be ! for softening The heart, an hour's stroll in a graveyard is worth all the
Sermons that were ever preached."
One of the best in the book, and which has not yet been reproduced in your columns, is from Chatham Churchyard, where a man had buried two wives. After stating the name and age of the first, he added :—
"The Lord gave, and the Lord bath taken away, blessed be the- name of the Lord."
In a few years his second wife died ; and following her name and age is :—
" 1 called upon the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my trouble."
In the Cathedral Churchyard of Winchester, to the memory of Thomas Fletcher :—
"Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire grenadier, Who caught his death by drinking cold small beer, Soldiers ! take heed from his untimely fall, And when you're hot, drink Strong, or none at all."
The above memorial, being decayed, was restored by the officers of the garrison, A.D. 1781. To the restored stone the following lines were added by the North Hants Militia in 1802 :—
" An honest soldier never is forgot, Whether he die by musket or by pot."
I must crave your indulgence for one other from St.. Margaret's Churchyard, Ipswich :—
"MARY BURGERS, died Dee. 25, 1825, aged 58.
Reader ! pass on, ne'er waste your time On bad biography, or bitter rhyme ; For what I am, this cumbrous clay ensures, And what I was is no affair of yours."
—I am, Sir, do.,
Previous page
