The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-09-12
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SATURDAY EVENING. Another week has
flown over the the variegated field of Time,
and its votarieS have plucled the rose and
the thistle, the joys and the sorrows of n
hayward world. The chequered drama OF
of life still goes onward to its final and
closing scene but none truly realize what
may be the next play, when the curtain of
Death shall he raised. and tho prospects of
future existence be disclosed.
But for this life-wc speak not of these
conflicting sentiments which agitate the
minds of theological controversialists-
trench not Hpon the realms Of poetical i'm
agination concerning another-we speak
but of those plain facts which operate in
this life, as though there was no hereafter
We would ask of the enthusiastic boy, who
imagines that all before him is bright-we
would inquire of the son of ambition,
whose schemes are founded, as he believes,
upon rock, how much they have either of
them progressed in the road of their choice
to the miser we would PROFOUND the
ques ton whether the increase of his hoard
has saved him from the gnawing of con-
scienee-to the dishonest, whether he sleeps
more soundly, or is relieved from his ugly
dreams-to the son Of genius, whether the
wreath of laurel is nearer within his grasp
Ito the politician, if his schemes are at
their successful acme-and to the fortu-
nate lover, whether he has realized bliss,
or disappointment, when he has obtained
his bauble.
If all these earthly pleasures, which oc-
cupy so much of our hopes, and over which
the nurse of fancy so affectionately bends,
are found like the bright clouds which are
above us, to be foul compound of vapor,
upon inspection, let us turn from our profit
less pursuits to an acquaintance with our
selves, our frailties, our imperfections, our
disappointments, our vices. and trim our
lamps to light more distinctly our neglect
cd shrine of virtue. Let us call in our
thoughts, which now are Fastening over
the barren rocks for speculation and centre
them around the bower of home, the cas-
tie of self contemplation. Would, that
each upon a Saturday evening should hold
communion with himself; that he would
sketch forth the path of error upon the
tablet of memory, and with Il correct
ing touch, amend its faults, and resolve up
on watchfulness-what more magnificent
spectacle could he presented, than that OF
the inhabitants of world retiring at Civ
en- period from the busy scenes of life, tc
hold converse with themselves, from which
they should come forth, i" like giants re-
freshed with wine," to go onward in theil
panoply of good resolutions to o contest
with the Establishments and specious al
lurements of vice ? each Saturday evening
would find them advancing in the march o.
virtue and primitive days of purity ant
innocence, would in the course Of years
again come round to hallow time and cter
nifty.
PRoFANE SWEARING. Nothing eXhib
its, to our mind, greater degree of vulgar
ity, and surer Indication of low breeding
than the habit of profanc swearing This
like many other vicious practices, is no
confined to any people, whether civilized o
savage, nor to any cline or country bu
we would assert, without fear ofcontradlct
ion, that no where is the practice more prev
alent than in England and this country
How often do we hear persons, otherwise G
the utmost respectfully, uttering, withou
provocation, and without excitement of tn
passions, oaths and technic0lities too horr
BILE to mention. How often do see meI
whose heads whitened with the frost