The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-10-13
THE WORLD.


As there are two seasons in life.
contradislinguished in every respect.
the morning and the cvening-y0ulh
and old age-so there are two dis
tinct stages IN its progression, thro'
each of which. the mind has a peCu-
liar and a different train of feelings.
The first stage Is the reign Of EN-
thusiasm-Thc second that If rea-
sou. In youth We arc sentimcn-
tallsts----in age, sometimes. mis-
anlhropcs.-In the first season Ne
see every thing specifically. aud
through the medium of a warm aud
active Imagination, heated with the
fire Of passlof, cherish hope where
there is.no foundation, see beauties
where there are none, and excellence
III pcrlertIon--but, grown wiser by
cXperienCe--and aided by the tri
nmph Of reason over the fiji kerlng
aud Il, ing lights OF imagination. we
sometimes go as far into the last
as We went into the first extreme.
This process is steady n progress
sivc one, but gcueraily certain and
similar in its consequences and re-
s"lis.
am now writing from my own
eAt ijence-Thc hrst distinct idea
haa n The deceptive nature OF APP
pcafarers was in thc view of dis
taUt landscape : il was beautiful
very paradise. lo..dc up ofletcI aud
extensive hradnss srrinkled over
with clusters oi trets and winding
stream in the midst. approached
IT. n IFS charms vanished the plain
was rough ana uneven, weeds aud
briars lined the hedges the fences
were rude Il deCa,irg ; the stream
muddy and sluggish /; and the trees
they were common ones. Just such
~ grow every where.-Fnr mo.
ment, then had doubt. whether
the world as it presented itself to a
young mind was not altogether de
ceptive.
had a friend who wound himself
deep into my confidence. aud | be
| licNed him altogether wnthy--hr
prolcSSed Tn be devoted 10 me, did
some luMgs to please me, said many
things To Halter me, was always in
my company when leisure allowed il
/ fInnfrIf fha N,r,.,tl Of n,,I
lie took the first opportunity Of cheat
ing me most---l will not say the
word. but was a little staggered.
Affairs more particularly of the
heart make IN always good many
pages in the history Of early life. !
took it into my head that a little giIl
who lived IN the neighborhood. was
absolutely and To all intents and
purposes--an angel. That she had
no equal in this world---was the
most beautiful, bewitching. ethereal
minded being that ever WaS sent be
low the clouds was sincere, and
confident of this---I took every OPP
portunity Of seeing her. and il. by
dint. of great courage and ingenuity
| ucCeedcd it afforded me week s
happiness-thesr were all necessary
Sunday occasions, when people look
as well aud talk as rreitily as posi-
bic. At las an extra opportunity
of seeing the fair creature occurred
II was to go over to the farm on
an crrand. An ambassador on his
first introduction To the presence Of
a sovereign could not have made a
better display OF his wardrobe than |
did of mine--eyery hair was exactly
adjusted ; my hat put carefully on
IA pair Of clean shoes under my
arm which were to be carried to the
farmers bark-and IN short | went
as every lovesiCk bloCkhead goes
the first time, to see his mistress
most particularly fine, and feeling
most particularly foolish.
gained the awful bars that bro't
me in the more awful presence Of my
angel. Stuck my old shoes careful
ly under log, put on my new ones
and went forward, after having prac-
tised bow or two. Walking lei
surely down the lane as near the
fence as possible, | met a drove of
cows, and a girl dressed in a dirty
linsey frock, barefoot, aud with her
mouth and breast smeared with musi
and moIasses, driving them forward
with sticks aid stones-i met the
company; heavens ! the driver was
my Sunday flame ; but what an an
,nel | threw my hat down in The