The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-10-02
MORAL & RELIGIOUS.
From the Boston Weehty Magazine.
HOURS OF LIFE,

The hall was lighted brilliantly, its tasteful
decorations and dazzling splendor seemed Of
Pleasures own CREATION and the gay company
fast assembling round her shrine, we're circled by
y spell which marked them as her own.
No grief brought here it's heavy burden: this
was not the court Of tears; no pain suffering
ventured in; and care laid off its anxious dress,
forgot itself, and wore the robe Of mirlh. Here
was no trace Of melancholy thought where ne'er
a shadow falls; no child Of poverty or woe was
here; but smiles reflected smiles around leach
by the bright delusion guided, come TO he hap
Ply.
Music gave its welcome signal; the dance com
menced. watched its varying evolutions, its fas-
cnating changes, till from its Macy meshes Sc
lected two who seemed to move the lightest; the
lady bright and beautiful stood beside her part
ner chosen for the web Of life. Both were young
both happy. Midst all the light of beauty and
fashion, my eyes saw only these. How fair to
them were all the promises ofearIh. How long
and bright the path they saw before them with
out thought that here, amid this gll.terjng joy,
the spoer Death might come gather victims
for.his sacrifice.
The curtain slowly rose---suddenly around up
on the stage, like fairy scene, stood hills, and
brooks, and brightly tinted trees, and thornless
flowers, all artfully arranged upon the hid
den canvass. The gray mist rolled up around
distant mountains, leaving the bosom of spark
ling river in most perfect similitude-then from
the recesses ofarching rocks came forth swee
notes of sweetest voices. The enchantm en-
r n - 4
the spirit of a deeper pleasure and summoned
to their hearts joys unreal as the fair illusion
which glowed around.
And they were there whom had watched be
fore, sitting amid its wild hallucination, blind te
its danger, nor heard the still small voice which
ever echoes through all the paths of worldly
pleasures, this mournful counter charm-hert
also comes the footsteps of the SpoiIer.
Branch by branch, us years roll on, the little
sappling rises to the stature OF tree; the rain
drop of Spring falls upon the hill side, and wind
its lonely way down into the earth, till nieetilr!
b with the rivulet, tjourneys on towards the sea
through many long, long days;-but how short
time may serve to change the tissue of mans life
his thoughts and wishes, hopes and fears, and if
itself, perhaps for Death.
Disease came and presented its chalice to tn
lips ofthose whom had seen in Pleasures hal
Bitter was its poison to the taste, yet grace wa
mingled with the draught; unwelcome was tn
dreaded form, yet kindly had it been commits
stoned; the charms of earth unwove before it, an,
the sound of mirth, which once hal pleaset
was to their ear the music of n shattere
Tyre. Their hearts melted in penitence, they
were forgiven When the last hour came tn
Saviour, in his mercy, stopped 10 receive tn
souls which dying faith entrusted to his care, {
raised them to his throne.
How peacefully comes the breeze around tn
burial place of the dead! how sacred seems eve
the long grass waving by the headstone of tn
departed! The soil is consecrated bv graves
tbs the last quiet resting place of earth; tits tn
? narrow space which separates lis from the n WIFI
mysteries of Immortality; tits the threshold
eternity-as Here in long, dreanIess sleep. res