The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-07-15

gull, which combines darkness with fouu
sounds, and thus the ears of the traveller
are rendered useless also. And so Of all its
other multiplied shapes; and when no 9TH
er appearance will longer delude-udcdncy
serves TO deceive all the SsaSes al once"
''It is perfectly RATIONAL" continued he,
''to conclude that evil men who started on
the left track, or who have entered it in after
life, should endeavour to preserve the di-.
versifed spots and the entire density of
the wall, in order to cover their own wick
edness and procrastinate the day ofretribu-
tion--and therefore men of this description
have commonly raised all the vapour in
their power to increase the density Of the
mass And if for one moment they per-
ceive likelihood that the cloud will be
dispelled an attempt is made to change the
aspect Of it, "And now Confucius!"
said my companion, "all that ! require of
thee in return for the use Of my glass is,
that through thy whole life thou wilt use
thy endeavors to remove and dispel this
cloud. Be assured my friend, that it is in
vain to scour and clarity the wall, in vain to
guard il with force of arms, in vain to build
it high and impregnable, while it remains
enveloped in darkness! 1t is in vain to sta
ton honest men by the wall on the right to
watch the operations of those on the left,
while the light is excluded! Those who
aim at securing the permanency of the di-
vision by requiring those on the right and
those on the left frequently to change pla-
ces, will, in all probability, be disappointed,
if the exchange be made under the cover of
this mist: and those who, toprevent the
division from becoming too dense, would
entirely remove it, and thus throw the
whole plain into one common field, will also
be disappointed, ifthis darkness remain, be-
cause it better for men to have material
guide which can be felt in the dark, than
no guide at all. Ii thou wouldst prevent
those on the left from expressing those on
the right, ana prevent those on the latter
walk from raising in sedition against those
on the former; il thou wouldst prevent those
on the path of domestic avocations" from
becoming sycophants and slaves, bowing to
the mandates of their neighbours, keep up
the wall, in its most transparent state, clear
of blot, breach or stain. Let it be of the
most elastic material! Let it be easily pass
ed, and show no arrangement! Let it be
closed quickly on having been brushed aside,
and let the roads from side to side be equal
ly travelled. Letthem be kept clean, which
can only be done by admitting the rays of
the sun OF reason in its meridian splendour.
This infusion of light can only follow the
expulsion Of the cloud; and as the cloud
can only y be driven away by gentle means,
properly and continually applied to the
causes on which it remains suspended;
therefore, Confucius, apply thyself to its
expulsion in this manner, but abstain from
all force" Here my preceptor left me,
and my wife having become alarmed at my
long absence, came to the arbour in search
ofme, and awoke me. l returned with her
to my cottage and found table spread with
clean cloth on which my rustic meal con-
sistihg OF wheaton loaf and cool milk from
Il
the spring house, with fresh strawberries
for desert. found the intent in the era
die futtering with joy at my approach.
These arguments in favour of domestic
tranquility which found in the cottage,
added to the stronger one, which hung on
my arm, induced me to adopt the resolu-
ton to get back to the private road as soon
as could Gfat any time I found myself out
ofiD & to labor for the removal of the cloud
of Ignorance as the most eligible mode of
promoting The happiness orman.,
CONFUCIUS.