Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-09-23
YOUTHFUL DAYS.
Gags of my youth, &c haze faded a,ca3."

hi"oSi every one who speaks oil chldhood MIR. Nor
' asserts Is the happiest part OF our life. This has
yer been my opinion | cannot think the season of
lie 'car forgot as She'd" is the enyiablc
portion OF our existence 'rls true we are then li~h
hearted and loyous-our sorrows as transient rs
summer showers-the greatest calamities agtatc the
eart anu wlther all that surround u.s. and we look on
IN dsnay Tor moment and then all forgotten But
are not INC Joys we experience fleeting our sor-
rows In TACT, all our emotions light and pass
through our hearts swiftly, those delicate clouds
which, driven by the Winds often fit over the face of
the serene blue sky. And who would not Willingly
give UP TINS calm insensibe of mind for the ex
quisite happiness, the intellectual pleasure which NAV
TALL to our lot in after life The charms of friendship
and love are then ours-we may wander over the whole
face OF the EARTH and delight ourselves Will; all tIat =,
beautiful! grand and interesng-yc may euiov liz, de-
licous pleasure OF making thousands hap,,,,yc ms ne
placed ON high objects of admiration aud reverence
TO ourieow bclngsthe heart thrill ing conv'i3 ;ht
we have not lived IN vain that have performed deeds
which VIII obtain for place in the hearts of all Win
surround us, and all who shall succeed us on the earth
may he ours. And can any one ia reality wish TO tear
these exalted sensations from his heart, and in their
pace Hrcior The uuineaung calm of childhood merely
TO shun the sorrcv and pain which NAV attend us in al,
these scenes! NO, there be none who has fully re-
uecteu on The subject, that for moment wish it
anu yei ROW IS 1t, that although may at the time be
enjoying the greatest bliss, yet when the remembrance
OF our youthful days comes over us we look b,clr 10
them with feeling of sadness and regret Even tho
MA" whose reiGioh teaches linn, in state of sin
IN our infancy, and it only when we are bo,7, again,
'"st we can ever nope TO be pure and holy-even he
"il iooh oack with mournfu pleasure to tue "days of
his youth" This sensation of regret must then be nro
yucca Oy Our remembrance of the ShortncSs of life
"hch naturally brings melancholy with it, to all who
Cast tner eyes back 10 their early DAYS and are thus
iorCloy reminded that much of the small time aotted
them, has already passed awav IWey feel If who Ivo
enjoyed riches and felicity for they fear they NAV have
abused the first and having had their share nj tho i.tt
liiey cannot reasonably look forward to more. The
mr. and ratc ,n,
ness vanishing one by one and the world and ali lis
pleasures passing away, while as vet none has fallen m
.her snare The wicked think Of the resolutions of re-
form they have broken-and the good ALWAYS fear tev
may not nave supported their trials or fulfilled their n
ties as they ought.
These thoughts occurred TO me- on hcarino tho tor,
OF Sophia A -, which related TO me aInono var
ohs oer histories of my early friends when lately
Sed TOR the first time in many years. the home of my
youthful days. 'She grew uDn said tl,e uarr,,,r CO.,
be one of the most lovely and graceful creatures tho,
perhaps you ever behed." Her Requirements VOC
uncoihhonly extensive, and she gentle and play
ful' mat every one who her. loved her In fart
s''e was ooilhne IN talents, and Eebe in yiyacr
duu sweetness ell, about sixteen wears AFRO there
came Mr.. C this place who saw Sonbia- fail
in rove WIN her-and she equally pleased with
hun, and her friends consented they were married and
Ved perfectly happy for many years for she was deyo
Guy d''aciSu 10 hiin and he appeared 10 be very fond
o her' al last her father died; and was found tia,
his property falling far short of their eypectatione
Wouiu oy no means justify them in the way thew were
WING however, they went on spending, until they
became quite strallehed, and then Mr.. c. told his
Wlie ie WAS forced to leave her. as il was necessarv for
nm to so TO England, and look after small fort,
winch had Just been left him. He went; and months
passed beyond the time he had fixed for his return and
SUI instead OF coming, he always wrote that his
required longer stay. Ten wears rolled avvar 80
sun oop"ia hoPed every day would bring him. But n
last he ceased writing, aud his wife wild with amir,
henslon resolved 10 20 TO England in search of
i''n' Sue had no relations who could go with her. but
was accompanies by my daughter Ellen, and faithful
Old seTvant-rDan. They landed in Engaud-hastened
10 the town be had written from and couId find M s,I
person there After much difficulty thew discoverod
that all letters directed him. were sent under cove
10 W.T.. vi - who lived some distance off i'm another
tp"n: lolnis pace Sophia went she was persuad-
ca tls must be er husband who for some good reason
hai changed bis to R. On arriv;no ,t bic
mouse she inquired for him, and was told he was in
ont engaged with company. Tell himn said tbe i'm
pauh' sophia bIs vie is arrived, and wishes 70 soc
hHn' ''liis wife" the servant said -, = erin 81
Is now with him" Just then the door was oea9 I
SOPHIA saw her husband standing in toe room and do
lighted, and regardless of all she sprapr forward U
IeT arms around hIn eXcaimng, passionateIv ssJace
l 'ouho you at last, my dear husband nv beloved
CiarIc5:-Iow could you leave your wife vonr NOR O.
Pima, so long IN loneliness and SORROW Rut 7 b,v
iound you now you alive and well and an, 81 han
P--and closing her eyes, she sank almost iusensbJe
on his shoulder. Ellen who bad followed her. said NJ
OOhtu 81 WIN did pale, mat II quite frightened
heT-and while he was holding Sophia he for a mo-
rnent' gazed tendcrly her, if he had half mind to
press heT 10 his heart But the next he looked btrr
eddy around and calling servant almost threw ber AZ
bun, saying hastily stake her away-take her avavrn
AT this moment proud looking lady, richly dressed
came uP.-"What is all this, Mr.. CO" she sad-ssi
thInk this woman called you husband-what can sbo
mean by It:'-'lndeed know not,p he answered 81
never saw her before "-Theu why are YOU thus agi
ta'eo sand the lady, while her black eyes pared with
anger.--'To tell the ruthn said Mr. c., recover
ng-she startled me, by throwing herself in nv arms
9ul OF course all must know, have wife but YOU INV
ueSTGsL LOUISA aud am not the least afraid any one
WIZ DeIeYe this woman's story. Sophia had recover
co. ana on hearing this, despair seized her, and as she
ougut All nope OF life or happiness depended on this
ast appeal she stretched her arms towards her husband
wme tears streaed down her face and she looked So
yoGng aud beautiful and so agonized, that all who pa
Zed OH her could scarcely restrain their tears s0b
ChaTies my dearest husbaud" she said; can il be nos
sl1le you intend to desert me thus for ever! Often.
"hen my friends have suggested the dreadful i,lea ~
me, nave spurned It with indignation, and have come
~ ld' oDy 10 ind 1t too true-You cannot deny am
your true and lawful wife, whom you married in Anne
I,Cs' Look at me- am SoPhia-your own Sophia