Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-08-16
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THE MEMORY OF DEPARTED roI.I

TIE MEMORY OF DEPARTED FOLLY.
Fem Tie Nah BriigoeIier Treatise.
who has no, Eel: the painful memory
OF departed folly' Who has no, n. times
found crowding on his recollec,ions,
thoughts. feelings, scenes. by all, perhaps.
but hum forgotten. which force themselves
Involuntary on his attention Who ha,
not reproached himself with the bi,iercs,
regret at the iollies he has thought, or
SAID or acted y Time brings no allevia.
ton TO these periods Of morbid memory;
the weaknesses OF our youthful days, as
well as those OF later lie. come equally
unbidden and unarranged, TO mock our
attention, and claim their condemnation
from our severer judgment It's remark
able that those whom the world least &C.
cuses accuse themselves the most; and
tina, foolish speech, which, at Il, time
OF ITS utfefarce, was unobservei 90 such
oS all who heard it. shall We, remain fixed
IN the memory Of him " ho pronounced il.
with a tenacity which he vainly seeks 10
communicate 10 more agreeable subjects
oil reflection. Ii is also remarkable, ,ha,
whilst our foibles, or our imagined expo-
sure Of them TO others, furnish the most
heqnent subject Of slmos, nightly regret
yet we ra-ely recall to recollection our
acts Of consideration for the feelings Of
! others. or those OF kindness and beneyo-
lence. These ere not the familiar friends
OF our memory, ready at all times TO enter
the domioile Of mind, its unbidden but
welcome guests. When they appear
they are summoned usually at the com
mand OF reason, from some unexpected
| ingratitude, or when the mind retire
within ITS council chamber, 20 nerve itself
for the endurance or the resistance Of in.
| Justice.
u such be tho pain, the penalty OF
ihoughtless folly who shall describe the
penalty Of real guilt; MAJ but the Of.
fender better. aud he is already severely
punished. Memory, that treacherous
friend, but faithful monitor, recalls the
existence Of the pas, TO a mind now i'm.
bued with finer feelings. with Steiner
notions Of Justice, than when il enacted
the deeds thus punisheGby their recollcc-
ton. IL additional knowledge be given 10
US, The consequences OF many Of our &C.
tons appear in a very altered light. We
become acquainted with many evils they
have produced. which, although quite un
intentional on our part, are yet subject
OF painful regret. Bot this unavailins re-.
greet IL mixed with another feeling far
more distressing. We reproach ourselves
with not having sufficiently employ ed the
faculties we possessed in acquiring that
knowledge which. il We had attained
would have prevented US from committing
acts VIC now discover 10 have been iniu.
rIous TO those we best loved. On the
other band, the good which such increased
knowledge enables US 90 discover What wa
have unini'nfionaHy done, fails to pro.
duco the saist1ciion always arising from
vIrtuous motive; and il IL accompanied
by the regret, that nv a sufficient cul,iva
ton of our faculties, we might have en-
loved a siill higher saiifaclion by more
efficient service 10 our fellow creatures.
Ehus on w hichsoeycr side we look a
the question. knowlcdYo aions is advania
. gcous ~ yinue, aud II additional know
ledge aione we're gwen IA a future life, i
would cause The best Of ul 10 regret tn,
errors of thr ftcfcnt