Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-02-27

listen TO the brooks that muruursd thou
sand tiuaes moro unsteady to listen to the
birds that sung thousan nd times sweeter.
and to the echoes that were softer than any
I have since beard. All ] there 10 nothing
on earth 50 enchanting as the scenes Of my
earliest youth :"
Hope INDUCED himself In a sly, signifi.
cant smile, and they proceeded on their
return home. Az they journeyed bu, slow
ly. many years elapsed ere they approsch
ed the spot whence they had departed =
VI SO happened one DAY they met an old
man. bending under the weight OF years.
and walking with trembling steps. leaning
on bis staff. Memory at oace recognized
him as the youth they bad seen gong 20
school, on their first outset in the tour Of
the world. As they came nesrer. the old
man reclined on hi. staff. and locking at
Hope. who. beng immortal. was still
blthe young boy. sished IS If his beast
was hre aking
"Whai aileih thee. old man." asked the
youth.
"Wbat aileth me-" ho replied in fee
bic, fauiieTing voice" what should all
me, but old age I have outlived' my
health and strength: I have survived all
that IS near and dear I have seen all !
loved. or that loved me. struck down 10 the
earth Ike dead leaves in autumn. aud now
stand Ike an old tree whitening alone IN
I the world. without roots. without branch
&c, aud without verduTe. have only Just
enough Of sensation 10 know that 1 am
miserable, and the recollection OF the hap
Piness OF my youthful days. when careless
and full Of blissful anticipztions. ! WAS n
laughing. merry hoy, only adds TO the mis-
cries now endure"
:" Behoid''' said Memory. ." the esn,e-
quence OF thy deception. ;" a nd she looked
reproachfully at her companion.
" Behold :" replied Hope. :. the deeep
lion prac,iesd by thyselE Thou persua-
dest him that he was happy, in his youth.
Dost thou remember the boy we met when
we first set out together, who was weeping
on has way To school. and signing to lie a
man ?'
Memory cast down her eyes and wa,
silent
A little way onward. they came TO a
, miserable cottage. at the door Of which
was an aged woman. meaniy clad, and
1 shaking with palsy She sat all alone,
) her head resting on her bosom, aud ~ the
pair approached. vainly tried TO raise 1t
, up 10 look at them.
GOOD morrow, old lady-snd all hap
Z
, old woman thought IL WAS a long time since
. she had heard such a cheering salutaiion
! Hsppineo!" said she, in a voice that
! qui,ered with weakness and infirmity-
/ '' Happiness have not known il since I
! was little girl. without care or sorrow
! q, remember those deligh tful days. when
; | thought Of nothing but the present mo
. nent. nor cared for the future or the past:
when ! laughed and sung, from morning
{ tall night. and e0yied no one. or wished 10
be any other than ! NaS but those hap
py times are past. never 10 return. q, IL
] could only once more return TO the days
Of my childhood 2"
Z The old woman sunk back on her seat.
E and the tears flowed from her hollow eyes
4 Memory again approached her compan-
/; ion. but he only asked her if she recol-
1 lected the little girl they bad met a long
( time ego, who was 80 miserable beca use
: she was so young? Memory knew il well
. enough, and said not another word.
e They now approached their home. and
memory Was on tiptoe with the thong of
once more enjoying the unequslled beau
4 ties Of those scenes from which she had
been SO long separated. Bot, some how
y or other. IL seemed they were sadly chang
: ed. Neither the grass was so green, the
i flowers so sweet and lovely, nor did the
brooks murmur. the echoes answer, or the
birds sing half so encbsniingly, as she re
z membered them IN long time past
Alas" she exciaimed, " How changed
Y 10 every thing. alone am the ssms''
+" Every thing is the same. and thou a.
a lone art changed" answered Hope "Thou
hast deceived lhyself in the past, as mue h
as deceive others in the future"
a. aWhaf ~ Al Won GIsnuf.nO -bout D.
!, ssked an old man. whom they had nc, OBJ
/ served before, though he was standin Z
n close by them :" have lived simost four
e score and ten yesrs. and my experience
may perhaps enable me 10 decide between
= you
They told him the occasion OF their dis
o agreement, and related the history of their
journey rouBd The earth Tho old man
Il Sailed. and for few moments sat buried
a N thought lie then SAID 10 them:
4" tao have lived TO see al The homes oil
,. my youth turn into shadows. clouds and
3 dsrk0ess, and vanish into nothing. T. too
e have sutvIVed my fortune. my friends. my
: ehildren-the hIIaritY Of youth and the
!, blessing % health"
= "And dOst thoa not despair ?" said Me
a mory.
"No. have siiIl ono hope lefl.'
~ " And what is fhst?'i
The hope 81 Heaven"
Memory taFned towards Hope. thre.
!, herself ints bis arms. which opened 10 re-
csiye her. add burst into tears. eEclaiming
- "F0fgivs me, ! have done thee iaius
y iies. let 10 aeSeF again separate lron
n each ether"
with Ell my hesri.v said Hope. go.
, they copiinued forever nnsr 20 travel to
! gsther, hahd 20 hard. through the world.
|. ~ j. .ilfrsr
al q