The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-07-30

WHAr IS LrrE WoRTH ?--Over the
broad face Of the earth we see the gbastly
form Of decay, touching the fairest things
and the best existence with decline and
corruption. The world is but one grand
mausoleum, on which fragile flower may
bloom for an hour, and rejoice in the light
and in the dew, and give up q sweet per-
fume and then die away, to be succeeded
by others as fragile as they.-The trees Of
the forest stand up in their vigor for o few
years, the rocks frown at the storms til
decay creeps over them all, and then, their
vigor, and strength, and beauty arc lost;
aud the mighticst object in nature fail, like
the weakest and tenderest. The bright
morning gives away TO the storm, and that
IN turn subsidies. The quiet valley and the
sleeping hill are rocked by the earthquake,
and rent by thh volcano, but their fury is
soon spent ond ashes and desolation alone
mark the places where they have rested
II 10 even so with men Youth md lowell
ness afford no security against the destroy
err. The budmay be blastcd, or the bloom
ing flowers withered, and infancy and
manhood, innocence and beauty, fall un
distinguished and unwept. Man, 200, is
taken away in his strength and usefulness'
dust 10 dust he is borne to the silence Of
the mansions Of death, his place is filed by
others, who crowd after, on the highway OF
life; his memory is soon gathered to the
capacious waste Of forgetfulness. The
tears that fall over the turf Of his resting
place, dry up with the morning dew, and
where is hep
But even the brief space allotted to any
ecrthly existence, Is one of mingled Joy g.
sorrow, veal and wo.--The tender flower
that laughs in the sunshine and bends with
extacy to the gentle moving of the soft gale
must shrink from the damps of night; and
be weighed down beneath the rude storm
The stou, oak must be torn by the blast
and behold its branches east off, at the sport
Of the gale; and rocks;e even sluggish though
rhey seem, lie in chungricss apathy, grow
grey in the weafisomo struggle with thc
tempest, aud must swell and shrink in tho
change Of summer and winter and be rent
by the bolt of Heaven, or melted in con
ccalcd fires. Rest and ease are not allot
Ted to any portion of inanimate nature.
Pains and privation and anguish, arc the
portion OF every one Of the human family.
Even If all else were well, the very uncer
tainty Of all things is fruitful source OF
,gony, to one who lives for the world,
There is not tic or treasure, Of whatever
.orco or value to day that may not be sew.
cred TO morrow or snatchcd from our grasp.
Whenever we look upon what we love, the
strongest feature is uncertainty and what
Is life worth? If an Individual could fix
bimsclfin the world, to dwell here untonch.
cd by death, or decline till his soul should
weary, in the imagination ofextendej time
according to the present order Of nature,
what would this lie be worth? He could
not behold an object ofiniercst bat il wonld
fade beneath bis gaze, as transient as the
blush of the rose; he could form no desire,
'ha, would not find disappointment. or sa.
,icty; his senses would tire with repetition;
his shackled faculties would weary in The
pursuit of intricate knowledge; and above
all bis affections would be constantly sgon
ized with loss upon loss, Of all around which
they could twine, till he would stand atlast,
alone the misplaced being Of another gen
Grafton or another race. and fall victim to
bitterness or despair. The mornings light
or tho evenings shade conld bring no re
f'roshing delights TO him. who is weary Of
them oil, and he would be stranger in q
needless family Of creatures ofsimilar mould
but different conditions ofexis,ence. Thus
mere human life is vain as the shadow that
fits across the landscape. or the ocean, if
we consider il separate from spiritual
state Of being.
Bot what is life worth ? we ask again.
Amid all its uncertainty It is the prelude to
better state. When the troubles Of time
are ended, and the worm shall prey upon
the clements Of our mortal frames, then
with certainty we shall dwell in a purer
condition, with enlarged powers and nobler
pursuits.
"when coldness wraps this suffering clay,
All whittier strays III immortal mindi
II cannot die. IL cannot stay.
But leaves its dsrkened dust behind.
a -
Above or hope, or hate, or fear,
n dwclls al passionlcse and pure.