Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-01-23
From the Guardian.
SORROWS UNSEEN.

The superficial observer estimates hap.
piuess by appearances. To the young,
especially, the rich seem to be happy SO
seems to be the man who is rolled in an
elegant carriage: or he that enjoys popu-
lar favour or he that dwells in elegant
mansions or he, that is surrounded with
gay and lionourabie companions, and
g withholds not his heart from any joy. =
But if we would open the recesses Of the
hearts Of those, whom perhaps, we envy,
because we fancy them to be happier than
ourselves we should often be surprised,
to find 10 them more care thar pleasure,
and more distressing anxiety. or even an
guish than enjoyment.
AS was entering great city, | pass
ed mansion, which indicated to my dis
ordered fancy, that il was the abode OF
earthly bliss. Its marble foundations,
suited, at the same time, for beauty and
durability; lis lofty walls, rising story
above story; lis halls aud porticos and
gravel walks, surrounded with trees and
gardens and other works Of nature aud art
to delight the fancy and regsle the senses
these outward beauties and elegancies,
with all that Imagination readily painted
as dwelling within, such as spacions rooms.
fine furniture, men-sergants and maidens,
and all the other enjoyments, which
wealth and taste can procure, constrained
me to say as passed by, 6 Surely this is
an abode Of happiness. "-Scarcely had
this sentence been uttered, before passed
another building, and then another, and
went on with similar reflections, till had
gone by the splendid assemblage of pala-
ces. which Wed with each other 10 beauty
aud vet seemed the more beautiful for
being situated together aud rejecting
beauty upon each other. The train Of
thought commenced at sight SO inter-
estipg, continued some time duriog the
progress Of my journey. How happy"
said |, are the inhabitants of those
buildings they want for nothing, and all
their enioyments are heightened and rem
dered doubIy delightful by the refinements
of taste aud the elegancies of literary at
taiument." Thus was led insensibly 10
despise my humble dwelling and enjoy
ments and all the dwellings and enjoy.
ments but those Of few, very few, who
reside in superb aud magnificent man
sions.
The words Of Solomon came to mind,
THE heart knoweth its 0aun bitterness, and
Immediately my imagination as il TO make
some attonement for her recent transgres-
sion. commenced new train Of reflections,
accordant with the serious realities OF
sober life.
g Enter the first mansion" said she,
" around which the drapery Of happiness
ia SO tassefuIly drawn, and you will behold
scene Of real sorrow. The mistress Of
this family has been wasting for years by
a consumption, which has baffled all hu-
man prescription. The elegant mansion
Is better than house, because it wards of
the rain and wind. But her splendid
apartments, and her fine furniture, aud
her sumptuous table, and her numerous
attendants do not abate the flood OF her
sorrows. Her appetite sickens at the
mention Of food her eyes turn away from
the sight of spleDdour and the very
sound ofthe feet Of her domestics causes
her feeble nerves to tremble. But who
eau tell the sorrows Of her heart What
NAV be occasioned by the sight Of album
dance. which she cannot enjoy ? And
what by the prospect Of leaving these
snIendours which she cannot retain Add
what by the thought Of Wondering to
atoms in the tomb ? Aud what by the as
surance Of appearing at the bar Of her
FINAL Judge {? True are the words Of Sol
ONION, The heart kno,ueth its o'va bitter
ness.
AS continued my journey, unattended
BY any fellow traveller, my imagination
sill, continued her reflections, and almost
led me to reverie.
" Go now" said she and see what is
Ia the next dwelling. II was but few
DAYS ago that messenger arrived from
the army with tidings respecting favour
lite son Of this family. This son had en-
tered into the service Of his country.