The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-10-10
MISCELLANEOUS
From the N'eao Hampshire Statesman.
THE SLAVE OF DOUBT.

From the .Neac Hampshire Statesman.
THE SLAVE OF DOUBT.
knew a man (whom will give the fictitious
name of Altamont) from whom nature had not
withheld many desirable qualities, in whose
mind happiness found no dwelling place. In
business he was prosperous, and had acquired
property to a considerable amount. Does
desire pleasant country seat in the vicinity of Il
great metropolis ?-he possessed one. Does one
desire sufficient wealth to procure many luxu-
ries as well rs necessaries ?-he possessed that
TOO. But--still he was not happy or contented
man. The truth is, he was haunted by the de-
mon of u1beh9! Yet he admired and envied
the happiness of Il candid christian. He had n
faint hope of but no settled belief in, future
state. He admitted the existence of God, but
rejected nay, secuted the idea rs inconsistent,
the divinity of Christ, or that he had been com
missloned by the Deity to visit the earth. Death
to him was all gloom-eternity bewildering
thought-immortaity a doubt. He admitted
that happiness and misery might be in reserve
for mankind beyond the grave, but he drew no
consolation from the hope of the one, while lac
had some dread of the other. He was in the
prime Of life, but still he feared he had
Ono foot in the stirrup,
Sitting out for the regions of death.
He had ruptured blood vessel and his con
stitution delicate. sudden strain upon his
body would cause him many weeks of sickness,
and his life would be precarious. At such times
the christians hope lowered not around his pill
low. Death was gazing in his face but he shud-
dered at dissolution. There was not concealed
behind the grave any beautiful prospect for him:
all was gloom, fear and uncertainty. But his
constitution, weak as it was had many times trl-
umphed over disease, resisted DEATH raised him
from his sckly bed, and enabled him by degrees
to walk forth under the bright canopy of heaven
to contemplate the beauties of his garden, per-
ambuate his fields attend to his business, and
ride into the busy metropolis; there, mingling
with business men, he would catch the fever OF
worldly schemes, and with renovated spirit,
strive to add more to his wealth. What strange
being is man! Now languishing on bed of
sickness, his life suspended by brittle thread
but in few days, with regained strength, he en-
tcrs with aacrity upon the affairs Of the world
Altamont the father of three lovely chill
dren the two eldest were the offspring OF his
first wife the other, a sweet little babe, that OF
his present WIFE Sometimes he would speak to
the two eldest, and seem to notice them with
slight degree OF pleasure, but never did he degn
the charming little infant who was the picture OF
innocence and beauty, look or word. Tow
ards his wife, the mother of the child, he bore
the most unconscionable hatred. Seldom did he
speak TO her-she was hateful to his presence
yet he dwelt in the same house with her; but
whether in sickness or in health, he would re-
ceive no kindness and attention from her. Jeal-
ousy, that "green ey'd monster the most hateful
of all feelings, ranked within his bosom.
"Aamont," said to him evening, white
we were alone in one of the splendidiy fnrnisheu
rooms Of his house, he resting his limbs upon
gorgeous sofa, seated in Il chair by Il round ee-
giant mahogany table, on which were placed ro-
ems, novels, magazines, and newspapers "Alta-
mont" said ], "you have every thing that rea
sonable man should desire, you not happy 20
GIN faith, mol" replied he "Happiness is a
phantom-nay, there is no such thing as happi |
ness in this world: it dwelleth not on this subIu
nary sphere. feel within me no sensation that
is allied to appiness-nothng that deserves the
name Of comfort, There is void within me /
that nothing can inhabit, and yet feel as il that
void was ever harrassed by despair, sorrow, and
sail the ills that man is heir too" Perhaps you
shink me an atheist, but ] am not. | believe in
the existence of God. But, alas so soon as
am deeply in thought of an onnipresent Being,
one that fills all space, sustains every thing, and
creates every thing out Of nothing,-then it is that
my mind misgives mel become bcwildcred,
and sink into gloomy feeiings.'
"Have you always felt as yol now on in
1rIred
"No; n love affair changed my mind entirely
1t taught me the vanity of human readings nf-
ter happiness. AS you seem alle interested in
l me, VIII give you short sketch of my life,
"Nothiug would afford me more pleasure, my
unhappy friend" replied |.
"AMBTTIoN was my ruling passon-Knowl-
edge my fondest desire, but my father was poor
man, and could not have the means for indulg-
ing propensity for books. At the age of six
leeen commenced my apprenticeship at the
cook binding business but having obtained
full knowledge Of the art by the time was nine
teen, ran away from my master, and obtaining
work elsewhere, received Journeymans wages.
gave my employer such satisfaction that he
made me his foreman after having been with him
SIX months. AT the end of the year bought an
interest in his establishment with the money
had saved from my earnings, and by the time
was twenty-five, found myself sole proprietor
OF the establishment and worth three thousand
dollars. lenlarged my business, and ere attain
ed my twenty-fith year my property was worth
fifteen thousand dollars 1t was now that he
came enanlnred with charnainr I'D -