The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-04-13

upon the night of the new year at his window, and
gazed with the look of fearful despair, up to the
immovable, ever-glowing heavens, and down to
the calm, clear white earth, upon which there was
no one 50 fnendless and sleepless as he. For his
grave lay near by him. 1t was covered only with
the snow Of old age, not with the green Of youth,
and he brought with him out of the rich abundance
Of his whole life, nothing but errors, SINS and in
frmities; wasted body, desolate soul, breast
full OF poison, and an old age full of sorrow.
Today his beautiful youth-days wandered about
him like ghosts, and drew him back to that pleasant
morning when his father first placed him on the
cross way of life, which leads the right by the
sunny path of virtue in broad peaceful land full
of light and harvests, and on the left drags down
in the mole tract of vice into black cavern, full
of dropping poison, full of Kissing serpents, and
dark sultry vapors.
All the serpents hung about his breast and
drops of poison upon his tongue; and he knew
not where he was
In dispair and unutterable grief he cried out to
| the heavens above, Give me youth again oh
Father-place me on that cross-way again, that
| may choose another path. But his father and
his youth were gone long ago. He saw wander
ing lights dancing among the marshes, and disap-
pearing in the grave yard, and he said" These
lare my foolish days" He saw star fall from
heaven and gmmer in its fall, and vanish on the
earth-"I am that" said his bleeding heart, and
the serpent-tangs of remorse struck deeper in their
wounds
! His burning imagination pictured before him
flying night phantoms on the roofs-and the wind
mill lifted up its arms in threatening manner to
crush him-and skull still lying in the tomb by
degrees assumed his looks. In the midst of this
struggle within him, the music for the new year
flowed suddenly down from the church tower like
la far off chant. His heart softened. He cast his
eye around the horizon and over the broad earth,
and he thought of the friends of his YOUTH who
now happiersand better than he, were teachers of
the earth, fathers of happy children, and blessed
men; and he said" Oh! also like you might
have slept through this first night, with unwet
|eyes, if had been willing. All, might be
happy my dear parents, if had followed your
precepts.
In this feverish remembrance of his youth time
it seemed to him if the skull, with the features
that superstition which on the new years night
sees the spirit of the future, it became living
youth. He covered his eyes. A thousand scald-
ing tears streamed down and disappeared in the
snow.-Hopeless and in dispair, he yet only sighed
in low voice." Come back again, oh youth,
come back.
And it came back; for he had only dreamed so
fearfully. He was still young man. His grief
alone had been no dream. But he thanked God
that he still young, could turn in the midst of the
dark currents of vice, and restore himself to the
sunny path that leads into the land Of harvests.
Turn back with him, young man, if thou stand
est in his wandering way. This frightful dream
will become in future thy judge. But if ever,
full of sorrow, thou shoud'st cry outcome again,
beautiful youth then will it not come again
German Of Richter. ~"