82 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cers of the Horticultural Society. This was decorated with ever- 

 greens, giving it the appearance of a natural bower open towards 

 the south. On the declivity of the fourth hill, and on the right of 

 the rostrum, ranges of seats were placed, as an orchestra, for the 

 band of music, choristers, and the various committees of arrange- 

 ments." 



"The day was cloudless, and the deep blue vault of heaven 

 canopied the immense area with a dome of more resplendent gran- 

 deur than all that genius can conceive, or art accomplish. Whis- 

 pering zephyrs rustled the many twinkling leaves of those towering 

 groves which crowned the surrounding heights ; the glorious sun 

 gilded with his cheering beams the smiling landscape ; while far 

 and wide over the deep and expanded glen a thickened, flicker- 

 ing shadow screened with balmy freshness the assembled multi- 

 tude, who listened with intense and elevated thoughts to the fer- 

 vent prayer, the eloquent appeal, the thrilling hymn of praise, and 

 those swelling notes of music which pealed sublime through every 

 vale and tufted hill of that sacred garden of the dead. Such was 

 the solemn stillness, so motionless the surface of the dark, deep 

 pool, that it mirrored the steep, receding acclivities, and the innu- 

 merable spectators who thronged the encircling seats. 



" At twelve o'clock, a procession was formed of the officers of 

 the Society, as an escort to the orator and officiating clergy, 

 which, preceded by the band, entered the rostrum through the 

 eastern vale. The effect was grand and imposing, calling up vivid 

 recollections of those solemn funeral rites which were performed 

 by the patriarchs of old in the field of Machpelah, or the assem- 

 bled Athenians in the venerable groves of the Ceramicus." 



The order of performances was as follows : 



1. Instrumental music, by the Boston Band. 



2. Introductory Prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Ware. 



3. Hynm, written by the Rev. Mr. Pierpont. 



To thee, O God, in humble trust, 



Our hearts their cheerful incense burn 



For this thy word, " Thou art of dust, 

 And unto dust shall thou return." 



For what were life, life's work all done, 

 The hopes, joys, loves, that cling to clay, 



All, all departed, one by one, 

 And yet life's load borne on for aye I 



