Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-02-13
THE REVIEWER.
From me Mobile Register.
EVENING THOUGHTS.

How much Is to b. dnuc' Ny hopes and fear,
Start up alarmed, and DER liic's Ialruw ,,r,,,
Look dOvu-Ou What
Gould but re,race my stems thru
lie, retaining my present experience,
now many serious mistakes might | q.
void IN numerous instances where
passion betrayed me should reason 90.
'ern; where prejudice uisled, candor
should be my guide; how many omit.
ted duties should be performed; the
eheets ol how many errors be averted.
Were life 10 live again, how different
should the retrospect appear"
Perhaps there Is not human being
TO whose heart reflections like these
nave not come at some period of exis.
tence. There are none SO entirely en-.
rapt IN buSinesS,or drowned in thought.
less amusement, or besotted by crimi-
nal qualifications, as never to have one
hour oil self'eOmmunIon-as never to
cast lingering look upon their devi.
Gus path, or give one anxious thought
toward the uncertain way upon which
still rests the shadow OF futurIty. Blu,
naturally as such reflections rise, they
are as vain as they are specious. La
general, they are deceitful emolients,
which serve only slightly to heal the
wounds which conscience IN faIthTul.
ness intlIcts. II is easy, when the ex
cited feelings have had time 10 subslde
TO review series Of actions, and ina.
gInc how much more wisely they might
have been conducted; tor, according
to an old saying, after thoughts are
best ones; but in truth, the same nc.
casion would rouse the same passion;
IN spite OF experience and good reso.
Lotions we would be likely to suecumb
to the same temptations which had con.
quered before, and thus furnish fresh
materials for new selt.rcprOaeh.
In support Of this assertion, we can
cite as evidence our own practice, and
that of men IN general. II, indeed, we
De candid IN saying that we're we to
1--we agaiB the years that are past, they
should be applied 10 nobIcr purposes,
Why do We not begin to 1--we to. day /:
We need not sUppiiestc that the length.
ening shadow which points 10 hes
m-f'd'sr 'Eovid be n,ir4c ulously thrown
5tcAusf' Sc ,4,e yet lie before
u-,-ut,e a,o q - true 40 It's dura.
"a =" Bat .t.S4-l 10 lave 90 duty.
We NFs ,IuEoi resist lhe Impet
noas -li WHi,1 barryihg us ihru'
tia-ci Cfc 90 van 10 sIsh tor the
,'a'"oi' .a'rf' 81 osth aud innocence
Shteh ~ have ietI behind, tut suTrly,
pfgdcats misht teach us 60 crowd tie
hFiei space sbi1h ien.ains, with works
II such a baiofe az shall not embitter
OuT hnal review Ui l.lc. Even th,u,h
TAT advanced on our voyusc, u ~ not
too late 60 put COOL wOtks on board,
and wait the Wind that shortly walt.
Ne into worlds unknown That such
- not the usual result of the rrVicws
which men take from time 10 time, Of
lliy, - obyious. Ihe alarmed bosom
- aulicd by halt formcd resolves Of re-.
formation, by intellectual -ssfe,s snd
cheap aeknoA ledgments; whiie warn
cd by conscience, convinced by e1pr
rUnre,the lndi,idsaI too often pufsass
the very course WHICH be has been De
precating, untll swdRc at last, too late
he hnd, Ibis bullle bark - burs, on
Chafon's shore"
hany, many thus trhc through lie,
ehiid'shly playing with opporuhite,
which may never return, aud indlin
ins 'ha' maddest Of all folly, 10 reject
The claims 81 duty, even vhen their
force y deeply iclt-lo say to morrow,
when Heaven and conscience say, 70