Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-08-18
For the Vermont Telegraph.
The Uncertainty Of sublunary Things.

EVERY wave OF prosperity says an J
American author, "has its e-acting surge,
and we are often overwhelmed by the very
billow on which we thought to be waited
into the haven Of our hopes"
The truth that all things earthly are
transitory, has been repeated SO often that
1t has perhaps become old and stale. But
IT can not be improbable 10 recall it to mind
occasionally, and from it derive rules for
the regulation of our future conduct.
The idea which the author we have quot !
ed seems TO intend TO carry is, the huctuat-
ing nature, Of terrestrial happiness; the de-
ceitfulness of hopes, and the liability of our
most sanguine expectations TO disappoint-
ment. Every wave Of prosperity has its
re-acling surge" We are waited with fair
and pleasant gales toward the "haven Of
our hopes" our ship rides triumphant upon
the billow, we see before US the port to
which We are steering, and already antici-
pate the realization of our joyous expecta-
ltions, when suddenly the wind changes, the
storm bowls in our teeth, and the tre-acting
surgen throws US back to battle with the
adverse tempest
There are different degrees ofdisappoint-
ment. Some are doomed TO see the blight
Of their most fondly cherished hopes, their
most glorious anticipations unrealized, and
+ their souls narrowed, and perhaps reason
deposed by the consequent despair. To
J Others the change is slight. %They totter for
a while, but other and more pleasing objects
call their attention: and the late defeat is
forgotten in the excitement Of the present
pursuit. They have seen the flower on
which they have lavished their admiration,
and cherished with the greatest care, wither
and die, but others equally beautiful spring
up 10 adorn their pathway, and the dead
cease to be regretted, in the love for the
living. But TO some, and not few, the lot
: falls to drop asleep among flowers that
2 bloom sweetly on either hand, and wake
amid the mazes Of the lonely wilderness,
or the arid retreats Of the barren desert
b The frequent exaltation and deposition of
e1kings, the revolutions of empires, recorded
y in the past history of the world, are evil
u dence Of the fuctuating nature Of sublunary
ne affairs. And descending to later periods
n and more retired life, we may witness FIRE.
Cd quently in our intercourse with the world
Oh how often men are plunged from the highes
as pitch of prosperity to the lowest depths o
~, adversely. The happiness of men derived
o. from association with their fellows, is de
pendent almost entirelyppon circumstances
u And were it not that all have an innate AM
p ever abiding consciousness of all oVerrulin!
"a Power, we might in reviewing our owl
e lives, and those Of others, be led some time
TO consider man altogether creature o
ed circumstance, so much is he influenced by
h occurrences, apparently the most trivial
int Events which seem In themselves Of n
es, importance, and which. by some are hardl
of noticed, are often as it were the arbiters
raj the destiny Of others.
ell From this we may derive useful lesson
pre- In the first place, such being the fuctuatir
ion nature of things earthly, we should be car
tn ful not to make the pursuit of trifing ar
~ unimportant things, the great aim and o
iect Of our lives. Instead OF grasping, /;
ary some men do, after low and grovelling o.
lint iects Instead of making pleasure our chi
pie and darling pursuit-set our mark high an
net never stop, until we havereached it. N
ers, be content with the common things Of Ii
,ss- bot seek for the his hest and noblest wit
ion ia the reach Of man. The saying th
The g what man has done man may do" is p,
ers hans in its most extended sense incorre
on But to a certain degree we may make>it 9
and maxim. Those who are possessed Of
red. lents, little if any above mediocrity, c
nly never expect to acr in the executive cha
ave or occupy very high stations in the literi
lem or political world. But there is cert'
oris degree Of celebrity to which all men N
love attain. Patient application often acco
plishes more than the most brilliant,g GEM
and though the exciiable populace9 lsen L
highest him who sparkles most, yet, To-
!. of long race, he who has laid up a store
ling many years, may fear few competitors.
fam can not be admired, yet all may be respect
II is best to guard against disappointm
cribe but when il comes, not to be undulV
are pressed by it. Some men seem 10 CT
how misfortune, from the recklessness they m
the ifest in nearly all their affairs. But Ii
! ago are they who bear it with the poorest gr
ONES They blame fortune for what their 9
these carelessness has brought upon them,
, ,he .,rI.;. <f ,heir hard fate. without