Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-09-30

| apart IRON all thesc thth5>, 10 hpu no
hope, nor Joy, nor sympathy in their un-
changing and noiseless periection-The
sense Of life eternal; the JOY OF virtue
land innocence; the young budding hopes
OF future bliss; the great and absorbing
love; the alteration of beautiful women;
al cut off in their drean-like being, and
that most brilliant and wonderful crea-
/ ton of God; the soul of his creature.
| lust rs it was opening TO the warmth OF
its faculties, to the energies Of its incon-
ceivable nature, to be hurled into the
deep and tremendous nothingncss which
wrenches down the young spirit in the
/ blacklist night for ever and for ever.
Some ideas, such as these, flashed G.
yer and anon over the brain of the care
less boy; but gradually he grew har-
dened against their power, and his de-
luded mind was prepared for the worst
by denying The power and life of lam by
/ whom ii WAS created. To him, guilt
was not loathsomc, nor virtue al!ufing;
he thought no punishment could follow
+ the one. or reward bless the other he
believed that crime was not crime oil 1t
was discovered, and only then receives
! the name from a bigoted and supersti
! 'ious world. When the busy voice Of
conscience would rise UP in his bosom,
he laughed at what he termed the nom
sense ofhis nursery; and tore ont. by the
| roots, all those sentiment of pure reli-
! gion which might have lent a CLEAN of
! happiness to his drcarv life. No, thought
he there is no future lite such atleast
as these timid fools believe in. When
| die am lost to sense and all feeling
for ever-my body will mouder in the
dust part of me, perhaps, will again
shoot up in the lordiy oak. and triumph
above wind and storm for hundreds
OF years; or. who knows but may bloom
in the leaf of the pretty rose-or spar
l<ie in the sandy bed of the rivulet--or
be borne on the fresh breeze through
the summer air What matters it, then,
whether ain lowly, unnoticed wretch,
tutored into the practice of what men
call virtue, by the fear of imaginary
pain-or the bold, brilliant adventurer,
shooting ike meteor through the dark
extent of time-bright in my existence,
and fearless of my decay? By the help
of these, and like reflections, his cha
racter acquired sort of artificial
strength, which became conspicuous
among the humber inmates of that sim
pie place. With degree of cunning
peculiar to his kind, he took good heed
to conceal his opinions from his unsus-
pecting friends, or at least never reveal.
ed them in any other way than by
shrug of his shoulders, or a sneering
smile, when be saw the happy families
of his neighbors, after the labors OF the
week, orderly and contented, stepping
over the green field that surrounded the
unassuming house of God. Unnoticed
by all were the irreyerent feelings of the
deluded sophist, while bis talents and
seeming nobleness of heart, won uni
versal praise, till the village knew no
boast but the brave, the generous, the
handsome young Harry Ransom. And
handsome, indeed, he was; tall and
slender, with glossy black hair, and
clear, good humored countenance, over
. which he possessed perfect command.
, In the neighborhood he bad met with
some disspated and wicked men, who
had made him more dissolute, and yet
more fascinating; they taught him the
ways of the world-he could mimic his
friends in quarrel ne was coliec ed
and skilful, and in the company of fe-
males he infused softness into his man.
ner, dangerous to the hearts of maiden
purity. Many bright cheek became
brighter with glow of pleasure at the
name of Harry Ransom. and many a
pretty head, with its silken tresses shook
from the brow, was turned with spark
ling eyes upon him when he passed along
the road. More than one pretty girl
/ breathed his name in her evening pray
er, and duh and cherries indeed was
that sleepin which his image did not APP
pear as the guardian angel of her inno-
cent repose.
OF this he was conscious, and failed
not 20 use it to his own advantage. lie
knew he could win any girl as compa-
MON through his silent and beautiful
walks, and when he romped with her
through the shady forester when he
wandered on the brink of the crystal
staeam the kiss which was stolen from
her ffes hfuby lips, drew not less spark
ling pleasure from the eye, than affected
anger from the pouting lips themselves.
There was one-in the viiiage-one