The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-09-17
TIE PAST
n cannot bn remember nchthinFs Rtre /,
Aud wore mosi d. a. 70 inc."

7
Aud wore aot df4f 70 me"
Il not from ll,e promised io,s Of the ruruRr
| that We can deri,r oaI happiness Anticipation
nav robe them ia her gaudlc>i colors, and array
| lem IN her brightest sucs, Vel dsappolnt
ment viii cast ter clouds over them aud their
bright hucs vii fade away like Ihe tins OF III,
! iniuhoW before the shadows Of evening. Neither
| can We ENJOY the PRiAt While moment Of go
lot mcni is asensual qualification We must turn
10 the PAST II N n kindly Providence that
while Il seems n bear us swiftly oyer the ocean
ri iTe, watts us unconscIously back by rehu-
ent tide to the seems Of Other DIV whose
Disiaac,irnds enrhapmcu,to tho ,iew,
lfthose scenes ha,c bccn innocent they must
b. happy every hour adds \ new tint, every
bas 4 new charm fothen. Il every ycar increases
fhcir value. Like objects 10 the aged eve as they
become more distant. they aprear more distinct
W bile We appronch the winter OF age they
! flourish ~ the serdnrc Of Spring, aud whils age
slaarh"s our locks, they bloom In eternal
youth
Like objects placed too near the vision we do
not &c our ENJOY men's ~ The moment they are in
uuf p0ssrss,nn--We do not know we have rcaliy.
! ed ti We have losf them There !. transport
thni blinds ns-lhrrc Is an rcstacy that deprive.
rs o f cons oionsness When thclenjoymem is torn
i rom orr embrace ye az axe ms from a trance, IL
Rhru reelection returns We behold happiness AZ
distance TITS thin that It glances on the dark
mirrot 81 the heart
q rot IN nms ha, ealged Tho rurlad brea,i
A. th"ss fond DREAM ofhappiuess coafess'd -.
~ I'D thr rHshibR windE fotgct 10 rave,
= Has',u's'~eet snio reflected on the wave
lhcr" is no EMO, nlent like that Of memory ;
fper. Is uo feliclv like the recollection of other
asts. lat COM fore US with all their deed,
Lfrn those things HAT were painful 10 suffer
49, pleasing 10 remember,
The PAST the pAsr!-How fondIv do We
ionk hark uponn How gladly do we ny from
The shades which d. Ibt casts upon the future n
the clouds thai reality throws around the PRE-,
sTs1.to catch pne sunny glimpse OF the PAST -
10 rrst the we on the bright scenes -four pill
! frim"Cc and refresh the soul AT the fountain OF
| Recollection Thus the benightcd traveller turns
back his wiSiiIl glance upon the elimmeflng taper
1.-THE distant cottage and the shipwreckcd mar.
! lner bends his anxious eve upon the last lingcr
! ing rnvs ~ the setting sun.
! How bright are the charms of by-gone DAYS
how enchanting the images they impress upon
the hcart--As AGr approaches us, recent creni
seem TO whittier in his grasp--their character,
are botted out like the traces on the beach h,
each returning tide But the images of othcJ
! days. became more deeply engrnsen in the mem
orr they seem To grow young, vigorous anc
vivid rs We grow old and feeble and manimate
! Harry, happy illusion 10 reconcile us TO III,
decays of age that we might resel again amids
the enchautmeots . youth, ard more than real
! re their innocence and THEN felicity.
How porentls do the recolections nj the past
| ike the cnehanted herbs of Nedea, restore Il
the autumn Of age the adolescence Of youth--rc
klndlc the estingnishcd flame of feeline--malS,
the feeble hcalthrob wildly again with the lon,
! abandoned thoughts Of its early ambition ant
] thu eve glow with mwoutcd lustre as il calls uI
| the IMAGE of its young ldolatry
How dark and cherries would he the pro,
poet OF lie, II the liehtof memory were closcc
upon the mud II VIC could not constantly Iool
back To cutch those rays of happiness which tht
spni ike the diamond has treasured up IN th,
morning OF Yon,ht 10 illumine our pathway in III,
evening OF age. Boston SGiesniaR