Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-02-17


cloud, and smiles in peace; upon the
storm rolling chariot and tremble. with
awe. l, looks forth upon the high
mountain tops in their solitary gran
denr, and upon the stately forests Ia
their dark sublimity, and forge's earth.
with its nutability, ii'tleness and fol-
;ly.-It looks upon the rich waving
fields and green meadow lands; upon
the quiet lake and The rushing stream;
and this worlds darkness and noise,
and strife, fade from its remembrance.
I, bel,olds with smile the circles Of
beauty and intelligence; the connexions
Of dignity and grace; the dwellings Of
purity and love; and the disappoint-
ments and sorrows Of time vanish for
Ia while away. Yes, more-it turns
its full and eagle eye upon the bound
less ocean-that image Of benignantry
and sovereignty, where Omnipotence
rides alone on the whirlwind's wing
and directs,he dashing storm, or where
be sits enthroned in all the bright tran
iqniiity of peace and hope-and feels
itself in nature far. far superior to the
vani;ies and vexations of its temporal
existence, and yearns, with all quench-
less energy, for the revelations and
ielicities Of an infinite hereafter.
But this contemplation of thing ma
terial an inanimatc still leaves void
behind; the heart is unsatiated and I'M
consoled. We turn TO higher objects;
to the kindred thoughts and feelings of
cultivated men, and study, with gush-
ing sympathy, the records Of their in
tellectual being. We behold them
bursting the chains around them bound
ing over impediments in their path,
scorning back to earth its native earth
illness, and the unfold freely their gold
en- wings and float away, far above the
humiIiations, and cares, and murkiness
OF this transient sphere, and move un-
ward in imagination through the null
tipiylng ages of immortal activity.
But the written records Of departed
genius cannot eliliven and cheer like
the eloquent lip and expressive eye of
living friendship. Hence we turn to
beings Of breathing interest, and senti-
meI,t, and emotion Ground US, with The
fond hope 10 find some kindred spirits
that can commune with our own; and
II indeed we meet with such, our mind
kindles and our heart rebounds with all
the warm and generous simplicity, ca
gernessand delight of chidhood's years.
And then we truly think life has not
an object nor charm without their
constant and congenial companionship.
We feel, without their society, con-
verse and sympathy, the sky has no
beauty, the earth no loneliness, the
flow Of waters no melody, the words
of the mightyin intellect and the strong
IN passion no power to subdue the soul
10 tenderness, or raise into triumph.
We long then anxiously tolean on some
friendly arm--to feel the beating of
some friendly heart. We deeply yearn
to look upon some tone of love. We
desire intensely to associate with some
being of similar intellectual mould,
whose characteristic sentiments and
tastes accord tremendously with those
OF our own breast.
A few briefmonths have passed since
two beings met, Of thoughts and feel
ings flowing in unison; one of lofty
intellect, dignity, and sweetness COM
bined--the other what nature, education,
and experience unitcdly have formed
him. They have conversed on themes
of varied intcrest--opcned to each
other the temple Of the soul and been
mutually happy. And must they now
YIELD to the decree Of fate, and part for
life: Must the silver cords be severed
and the golden bowl broken that were
binding each TO other with the strength
Of affection and the rich fullncss Of
hope? II so, let Heavens best will he
done. But let this be token, simple
and valuclcssindeed that thou hast been
a friend, most sincerely esteemed and
generously accredited by him who has
addressed thee these hurried lines. Let
this be trifling momento of the few
happy hoursthat have shonc out bright
~ upon the silent obscurity of his path,
and illumincd the page ofthc past with
the haliowed light ofthy own pure and
radiant spirit. My Heavens kindest
love, and fairest smiles, and largest
blessings be the friends whose name
and image will ever be devotedly cher
ished and sacrcdly honored in the
blighted heartof CLARENCE.
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