Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-06-05


eyes Of the young sparkled brighter at
his approach; old age, as it cast its dim
glances at the blue vault Of heaven,
seemed Inspired with new vigor; the
flowers looked more gay, the grass more
green, the birds sung more cheerlully y
and all nature seemed to sympathize in
his gladness. Memory was Of mortal
birth, but Hope partook Of Immortality. |
|, One day they chanced to meet, and
Memory reproached Hope with being
deceiver. She charged him with delud-
ing mankind with visionary, impractical
Bile schemes, and exciting expectations
that only led to disappointment and re-
gret; with being the igms jatuas Of youth,
and the scourge Of old age, But Hope
cast back upon her the charge of deceit,
and maintained that the pictures Of the
past were as much exaggerated by Me-
mory, as were the anticipations Of Hope.
He declared that she looked at objects
at great distance in the past, he in the
future, and that this distance magnifcd
every thing. "Let US make a circuit in
the word," said he, "and try the exper-
inent." Memory consented, reluctant
ly, and they went their way together.
| The first person they met was a school
boy, lounging laziIy along, and stopping
every moment to gaze around as if un-
willing to proceed on his way. by and
by, he sat down and burst into tears.
"Whither so fast, my good ladi" ask
ed Hope, jeeringly.
i 81 am going to school," replied the
lad, "to study, when l had rather thou
sand times be at play; and sit on bench
with a book in my hand, while l long to
be sporting in the felds--but never
mind, shall be man soon, and then
I shall be as free as the air." Saying
this, he skipped away merily, in the
hope Of soon being man.
cit is thus you play upon the inexperi-
ence oil youth" said Memory, reproaCh-
fully.
Il Passing onward, they met beautiful
girl, pacing slow and melancholy behind
"a party Of gay young men and maidens,
who walked arm in arm with each other,
and were flirting and exchanging all
those little courtesies, which nature
prompts on such occasions. They were
all gaily dressed in silk and rbbands:-
but the little girl had on simple frock.
a homely apron, and clumsy thick-soled
shoes.
"Why don't you join yonder group"
asked Hope, "and partake Of their gaie-
ty, my pretty little girl"
"Alas" replied she, "they take no
notice of me- They call me a child
I But shall soon be a woman, and then
shall be so happy!' Inspired by this
hope, she quickened her pace, and soon
was dancing along merrify with the rest
In this manner they wended their way, g.,
from nation to nation, and cline to cline,
until they had made the circuit Of the
earth. Wherever they came, they found
the human race, which at this time was
= all young-it being not many years after
, the first creation Of mankind-repining
, at the present, and looking forward to a
, ripper age for happiness. All anticipated
3 some future happiness, and Memory had
: scarce any thing to do but cast looks ol
n reproach at her young companion. ole,
us return home," said she, "to that de-
F.; lightful spot where l first drew my
g breath. long to repose among its beau
r tiful bowers; to listen to the brooks thai
0 murmured thousand times more music.
: ally; to the birds that sung thousand
e times sweeter; and to the echoes thai
S were softer than any have since heard
s All! there is nothing on earth SO enchant
s ing as the scenes of my earliest youth. >
}, Hope INDUCED himself in a SLY signifi
j cant smile, and they proceeded on thei
: return home. As they journeyed bu
: slowly, many years elapsed ere they ap
J, preached the spot from whence they de
# parted. 1t SO happened one day they
= met an old man bending under the
n weight of years, and walking with trem
:, bling steps, leaning on his staff Memo
! ry at once recognized him as the you'll
IS they had seen going to school, on thei
IS first onset in the tour OF the world. Al
i they came nearer, the old man reclinet
o on his staff, and looking at Hope, who
j. being immortal, was still blithe young
e boy, sighed as if his heart was bre aking
y "What aileth thee, old man" ask et
IS the youth.
y "What aileth me-" he replied, in
) feeble, faltering voice--"what shoult
= all me, but old age? l have outlved my
If health and strength, / have survived al
l. that was near and dear; l have seen al
,r that l loved, or that loved me, strucl
n down to the earth like dead leaves il
d Autumn, aud now l stand like an oil,
t. tree, withering alone in the world, with
,f out roots, without branches, and withou
e verdure. / have only just enough sen
e sation to know that am miserable, an,
,fl the recollecfion of the hanniness of M,