Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-07
BEAUTIFUL Elk rRACT.
/. Iher. seen an end ofaA perfection"

and the pride Of his strength. he was Quit
lik, The ,all cedar that lifts ITS head above the
fores, trees; like the strong oak that strikes us
root deeply into the earth. lie feared no uah>
rer-he felt no sickness. His m'nI was tisot-
Gus like his body, he was perp'exrd at no lntri
cacy. he was daunted at no difficulty; INTO ma.
den things he searched, and what was crooked
he M, Main. He went forth fearlessly upon
IN, face Of The mighty deep; he surveyed az
mons of the earth; ne mea ,ured the distances al
,b, stars. and called them by their names he 81 :
,ieI in the extent OF his knowledge, III the vigor
of his understanding, and stroNe to search even
into that the Almighty had concealed And
when looked on him said "Nhat piece
of work is man! how noble ~ reason! how in
finite IN faculties! in form and moving how TX
mess and amiablt! in action no" like an angel!
in apprehension how like god!
returned-hs look was 10 more lofty nor
his s,ep prouti; hrs broken frame was like some
ruined tower; his hairs were white and scattTr-
ed; and his eyes gszeG vacanuy upon what vas
passing around hun. The 'igor oil ms intel
let was wasted, and of oil that he had gained
by study nothing remained He feared when
there was no dang-r, and WHEN there was no
scr row he wep,. His memory was decayed
AID treac herous, aud showed him only broken
images Of he CORY that mas depar,ed h's
friends were counted as enemies; and he rho''
himself strong md hral'hfui while has foot tot.
tered On the verge OF the grave He said OF IL
son-he is my brother; OF bis daughter know
htrnut, aud enQuired what was his own name
And one who Supported his own steps, and
miui,tered To his many wants, SAID 10 me, as /
looked on the melanCh holy sCenc--"Le, thine
heart receive instruction. tor thou hast seen
an end Of all EARTHLY perfection
Iba,e seen beautiful female ,rcading the
frs, stages Of YOU h, and entering joyfuily INFO
tive pleasure ot liGe The glance Of her eye
was >ariahle and sweet, and on her cheek trem-
bled something like che irst hiush-ot the morn
inr; her lips moved; aud tHere was halm"hy;
when she noaied IN The dance, her light lorm
hike the aspen SEEMED 10 move with every
brerze. Irsturac bat she wa no. IN NE
dance; sough, her in the gay circle other COM
uauiun>, hut found her MT. Her eyes SPAR
Killed. not ,ners-the music OF heI voice ST.
len,-she rejoiccd on earth no more. | Saw 8
train SABLE and slow paced who bone sadly 10
an npsn grave what once was animated and
beautiful They paused as tn v approach
and a voice broke the awful siitnct -" Jingle
ashes with ashes & dust with is original dus &.
'ToIhe ear n whence she was first tak,n, con-
sign we the body Of our Sister" They cover
ed her with the damp soil, and the solid cl1ds
: Of the vail v: AID the worms crowded into her
silent abode. Vet one sad mourner fingered,
TO cas-, himself upon the grave, and as he yeijt
h.. said 'rherr is no beauy, gree, or
lo,e,iness that continueth in man: for this is
the end of all glory and perfection .
have seen an iuf ut with fir brow, and a
frame like polished ivory its limbs were plan,
inns sports; it reini, ed. and again il wept. bu,
whether it, glowing cheek d'uiplsd with smiles
or i,s blue rye vas br,liant wiki Iears s,il said
20 nv heat. 1t is beautiful 1t was ike the
first pure blossom which some cherished plant
has shot forth, whose cup - filled with dew
drap, and whose head feclines upon It's parent
stem.
again saw this child when The lamp of rel
son first dawned in its mind. Its soul wa, gen
tie and peaceful; its eve sparklrd with Joy, as
i, looked round on this good * pleasant world:
j, ran swiftly in the ways OF Knowledge Ii
bowed its ear To instructioh-it stood like a
lamb before its teachers. 1t Was not proud, or
envious, o. stubborn, and it had never heard
of the vices and vaniues Of the world. And
when looked upon II, remembered tina, our
Saviour bad said, "eXcept ye become as little
childr u, We cappet enter into the kingdom OF
heaven. "a
But the scene was changed, and saw 4 man
whom The world called houorabl; aud man,
waited for his smiles. They poincd the
lie Ids thai we're his, end talked of the silver
an gold TIA, he had gathered; they admired
,he slateliness OF his domes, and eAinil"d the
honour of his family .Aad his heart answer
ed I,e,S.fs4ly, ..Bysmy wisdom have gotten all
This, so he returned no thanks TO God, neither
did re tear or serve him, And IS passed a.
lons | heard the complains of The laborers who
had rcaped down The fields, aud tie cries Of the
Loor whose covering be had taken away; ~
IN. sound of ieastlog, and revelry was in'hs
psr,men,s, and the unfed 5eggar came totrering
from b. 5 door. Bat he considered not that the
cries of the depressed were continually entefing
in The ears of the most High. Andsuhen knew
that this man was once the ,eachabie child that
i had lo,ed-the beautiful infant l had gaz, d
upon wi n delight said IN my bitterness, 81
have seen AN end of all perfection" and laid
my mouth in The dust