his pall-bearers, and cannon beat the hours with solemn procession. Dead! dead! dead! he yet speaketh! Is Washington dead? Is Hampden dead? Is David dead? Now, disenthralled of flesh, and risen to the unobstructed sphere where passion never comes, he begins his illimitable work. His life is grafted upon the Infinite, and will be fruitful now as no earthly life can be. Pass on, thou that hast overcome! Your sorrows, 0 people, are his pœan! Your bells, and bands, and muffled drum sound in his ear a triumph. You wail and weep here. God makes it triumph there. Four years ago, O 0 Illinois, we took him from your midst, an untried man from among the people. Behold, we return him a mighty conqueror. Not thine, but the nation's; not ours, but the world's! Give him place, ye prairies! In the midst of this great continent, his dust shall rest a sacred treasure to millions who shall pilgrim to that shrine, to kindle anew their zeal and patriotism. Ye winds that move over the mighty spaces of the West, chant his requiem! Ye people, behold a martyr, whose blood as articulate words pleads for fidelity, for law, for liberty! IV. THE FUNERAL AT WASHINGTON. WHEN Mr. Lincoln's body had been removed to the President's House, the embalmers proceeded to prepare it for the grave. Mr. Harry P. Cattell, in the employ of Doctors Brown and Alexander, who, three years before, had prepared so beautifully the body of little Willie Lincoln, now made as perpetual as art could effect the peculiar features of the late beloved President. The embalming was performed in the President's own room, in the west wing, in the presence of President Johnson, Generals Augur and Rucker, and the attending physicians of the late President. The body was drained of its blood, and the parts necessary to remove to prevent decay were carefully withdrawn, and a chemical preparation injected, which soon hardened to the consistence of stone, giving the body the firmness and solid immobility of a statue. The solemn sadness of every thing around the Executive Mansion, during the morning of Wednesday, was one of the characteristics of the day. No person was admitted except those who had charge of the arrangements for the funeral, or such as had some labor to perform in completing the preparations, and the invited guests. It was in reality the house of mourning, and those very rooms which the public have seen on State occasions filled with life, animation, and joy, were dressed in the habiliments of woe. Entering the front door, this stillness seemed almost deathlike. Every person moved along on tiptoe, as if fearful of disturbing the long and deep sleep of the great and good man whose body lay within those walls. The Green Room, in which the body had been placed, was darkened, and a shade of night seemed to hang over it. The blinds were nearly closed, allowing but a faint streak of light to enter the windows. The doors, windows, cornices, and chandelier were richly hung with the weeds of grief and mourning, through which could be faintly seen the rich damask and lace curtains which adorned the room on all other occasions. The numerous large mirrors were also heavily draped, with a panel of white crape covering the face of the glass. In fact, everywhere were the marks of sorrow, which spoke of the bereavement of hearts, of household ties severed, and of a nation weeping and mourning over a chief that has fallen. Near the centre of the room stood the grand catafalque, upon which rested the mortal remains of the illustrious dead, inclosed in a beautiful mahogany coffin lined with lead, and with a white satin covering over the metal. It was finished in the most elaborate style, with four silver handles on each side, stars glistening between the handles, and a vein of silver winding around the whole case in a serpentine form. To the edges of the lid hung a rich silver tassel, making a chaste and elaborate fringe to the whole case. The silver plate bore the simple inscription: it ABRAHAM LINCOLN, SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Born February 12, 1809. Died April 15, 1865. The catafalque stood lengthwise to the room, or north and south, and immediately in front of the double doors which lead to the wide hall. The floor of the catafalque was about four feet in height, and approached by one step on all sides, making easy to view the face of the honored dead. Above this was a canopy, in an arched form, lined on the under side with white fluted satin, covered otherwise with black velvet and crape. This was supported by four posts, heavily encased with the emblem of mourning. The canopy, the posts, and the main body of the catafalque were festooned with crape and fastened at each fold with rosettes of black satin. On the top of the coffin lay three wreaths of moss and evergreen, with white flowers and lilies intermingled. At the head of the coffin, standing upon the floor of the catafalque, and leaning against the metallic case, stood a beautiful cross, made of japonicas, lilies, and other white flowers, as bright and blooming |