Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-12-31

Y over matter, in the elevation of thought an
feeling, and the subduing of brutal passio
I and appetite. The first belongs to the swim
when wallowing in filth and plenty-to I'll
IDIOT, when he is permitted to eat and slee
IN quiet.-to the poor slave when the rain g
, Sabbath has brought him a holiday, and
, kind master has ministered to his bodil
: wants.--To all of the unenlightened, in som
degree, who are not suffering from cold, o
hunger, or thirst, or any of the pains OF bod,
or mind. The latter belongs 10 him, wht
can look back upon well-spcnt and ussfu
hie--whose mind can range with pleasure o
yer The past, and dive with satisfaction into
the future, gathering wholcsome nt,irisi:.
/ mci.t from both memory and hoy whose
s's.n - vTc- active with 'hc~-'-. an, whose
heart is pure as his intellect is improved
TO him, who, wrapt in the contemplation OF
the celestial bodies, forgets the lesser thinqs
of earth. To him, who communing with the
| great and good of antiquity, feels his own
heart swell with generous emotions, and ri.
ses from the perusal Of their history with
high resolves TO emulate their virtues and
their achievements. To him, the patriot and
the statesman, who, devotng his time and
talents To the service of his country, sees
thousands reaping the fruits of his labors,
and derives high and holy happiness from
the contemplation of that which he has con-
ierred on others. 1t belongs to him, who. by
his midnight lamp, unconscious of the Lapse
OF time, prosecutes those solitary studies
which are to wreathe laurels for his own
brow, and shed light upon the path of MANY
pilgrim to the shrine of knowledge. To
him, whether rich or poor, who, surrounded
by an atiectionate family gathered about the
lireside oil home, teaches them lessons ofwis-
dom and morality, watches the rapid Develop
rnent OF mind and Strengthening of principle,
or else reads and listens alternately to some
interesting volume, on the contents ef which
the whole circle hangs with breathiess atten-
tion. But In an eminent degree docs it be-
long to the enlightened Christian, who, wean-
Ing his affections from the things of Earth,
devotes his time and energies TO the service
OF God, Christening his own heart by PRAYER
and meditation, and bringing salvation to 9TH
ers by his christian labors in The vineyard of
the Lord.
am far from contending that this g3osiiire
happiness, which alone is worthy the posses
sion or enjoyment OF rational being, is the
necessary result of Education; for, iithe heart
be radically wrong, knowledge serves only to
inclte ana give wider scope and power TO its
evil passions. But ] do contend that Edu-
cation is the only or at least principle source
through 'chich this higher order Of happiness
can be attained. To the ignorant and un,et-
tered man its thousand sources are damned
up, It's lnyTI3u ;ivcuuvo -CTcSvd. 4 y IsIHs,4
ven the beautiful heavens are as sealed and
unmoaning book. He walks under their
broad canopy, but neither sees nor feels that
the Creator has written there his power and
goodness in characters OF light. He regards
the green earth and the blue eXpanse above rs
the mere works Of chance, nor does his men
tai vision extend beyond that contracted hor-
ZION which bounds his physical sigit. He
sees not the light of distant suns shed upon
their attendant planets he feels not the awe
and admiration inspired by the contemplation
of myriad worlds scattered over the heavens,
and hears not the music of the spheres as
these worlds reyolve III their respective Or
bits. is he a poor man, his hands are hard
aud worn with labor, and his body weary
from the toll and sweat of the day while
no memories OF the past, no hopes or aspira-
tons for the FIXTURE relieve and elevate his
mind that is dull and passonless as the clay
that confines it to its mortal tenement, and en-
crossed with thoughts indeed ltcan be said
to think.) of toll and lucre, bound down by
letters of sloth aud ignorance, its noblest de-
sire is an end Of labor, the enjoyment Of a
good meal, or the drowning OF all care in
drink and sleep. But when he returns from
the field, how then passes his time ? 1t cam
not al be killed in eating and sleeping, es-
pecially of the long and weary winter nights
Or should the inclemency o? the season con-
fine him to the house through the day, how
shall he give llghtnesS to the leadcn wings
of time? How spend the lone aud weari-
some hours that hang so heavy or his handsl
II ow escape from hlmself-from the gloomy
priscn-house of body and soul TO him. t
ven the sabbath is day of mental dispute
tude and suffering, temporary Purgatory ON
earth not a sweet relei from worldly care
! and translation Of the soul to the commu-
Mon seat of Angels. ''ris passed in eating,
| and sleeping, and visiting, and a thousand
vain efforts to cheat time of lis moments
| iii rowing about the country, i'll standing at
! the street corners, in low and vulgar CONVEX
| saion, Or, worse still, in the launts OF folly
and vice. where Dissipation lures her victims
to their doom. Even the body finds no real
rest, while the spirit drinks not ut all OF
those higher and holier springs Of happiness
I which pour out the waters of Life for the
enlightened christian. I draw no Earcicd
picture to cheat your negotiations you
your5elvcs, have ottimcs seen this. IL may
be that Somc Of YOU have CgpcriCHced il il
your own persons. But should disease coniiuC
such an one to tire bed of sickness and suffer
ing, his body writhiDg with pain, and hi:
mind sinking under accumulated afillciiouS
or should misfortune immurc him in the pri
son house, his vision bounded by The col,
ddmp walls and iron CRATES that cut him cl
from the world, his cars greeted by TO sound:
save the clanking of chains, the cracking @
the iron door as it turns heavily OH It's hinges
and the gruff voice of the TAILOR calling hir
to his stintcd meals Of bread ard water
how, oh how then, shall he cheer his lionel,
and desoiate heart. how light the darkness