South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-01-24

WbUto 10 sc
Blu, yesterday, we saw him in health,
vigorous, gay, proud in strength, and
confident in happiness. His spirits
were buoyant with hope exulting in
fair promise Of life and its numerous
enjoyments. To-day the scene is
changed-he has given up the ghos,,
and where is he Who can paint the
alteration few short hours have made :
Who can look forward to as many
more, with confidence, that they will
be his Infancy but opens its tender
eyes, to cast single look at life, and
closes them again forever. Childhood
breathes but few short days, of limo.
cence and joy, when It's last sigh tells
its departure to another world. Youth,
gay, and aspiring youth, with all its
fairy visions, its dreams of bliss, and
brilliant anticipa,ions, scarcely clasps
the cup ofjoy, till death unnerves its
hand, aud life, with all its promised
blessings, fades from its view, and is
lost in the grave. Manhood, bold and
hardy manhood, whose sturdy frame
has buffeted the dangers, the cares and
tolls oflife, nerved with the hope Of
glory and Of gain, takes but few firm
and hasty strides, when his sinews ere
unstrung, and he too, sinks TO rest, and
is seen no more. Age, feeble, decrepid
age, wearied with the lone and toll.
some march oflife, totters to the grave,
loaded with tho trouble and bowed
with cares, and calmly lays down its
grief worn head, and sinks, 10 rest.
Alas infancy, childhood, youth, man
hood, and age, are all passing away
they give up the ghost and where are
they ?
The dead return not to inform US of
their destinies. The grave, cold, 81.
lent, and Implying, tells no tales Of
the inhabitants. Knock at its door, is
opens to receive, but gives nothing
back. lis cry is continuous, clear and
loud, give, give, givsl World on world
cast their unnumbered millions at its
feet, its cry is yet heard, its appetite is
still eager and unsatisied.-Where,
then, are our friends, Our neiehbors,
and our kindred gonea They have
passed away, they will not return to
US, they have "given up the ghost, and
where are they Z" Can no one tell
usf Yes,-He who made Us, who
watches over, guards and protects US |;
who loves and pities US who sen, bis
SoN into the world to redeem and
save US, and guide our wandering foot.
steps home to him-He, He, indeed,
can tell Us. In the volume Of truth,
He has told us. They have gone to
another and better world, where they
wait for us-where We too shall speed.
lily follow, and join them.
Let US, then, pass cheerily on. Let
grim death drop his sable curtain-le,
the tomb open wide its portals, and e.
ternity spread its vail over US, and 10
few brief moments, we shall land
upon those shores, "where the wicked
cease from troubling, and the weary
are at rest.' Where the sun of Right.
eousuess shall shine upon us-where
He who redeemed US shall bid US vel.
come-when Angels, in full chorus,
shall chant the paan Of joy at our en-.
trance into the realms OF bessedness,
and the society of our friends, to part
from them no more forever.-NOrM A.
merican. -
VoHaire.-How empty is popular
applause How Insignificant the OBJ
ects ofambition when attained Vol.
taire stood at the head Of literature in
France as a historian, dramatist and
poet he received the highest need Of
applause. Marmontell, his intimate
friend and ardent admirer, visited him
upon an occasion of literary triumph,
and 10 use his own language, ~ saw
him on his bed. Well said l }. are you
satiated uoith glOrys 'Ahl my good
friend,' he replied, you talk to me of
glory, and ! am dying in frightful tor.
ture p The principle cause Of this
torture, we are told on other authority,
was the dread Of an approaching eter.