The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-21
HUMAN LIFE.

iU M AN LIFE.
How strange thing is human life how filled
with vicssitudes and how ehequered with cares and
disapponments. The sport of circumstances, man is
borne along by the resstless current of time, and
finds himself, a. one moment, contending with the
pillows Of adversely and, at another, gliding onward,
peacefully and quietly beneath the cloudess sunshine
prosperity until at length he is enguphed in the dark
fathomless of eternity In vain does he strive
to steer his by the pole star of good intention
for when he least expects it, he is, too often, turned
aside by the crcng eddies of selfinterest hurried
away by the whirpoos of con,enling passions. Be-
meath his rackIess way, lie, unseen, the rocks of mis-
apprehension and Misrepresentation, ready 10 shatter
his fail bark and tear her. plank from plank and, not
unfrequently at the instant when he beholds all
"heaven around him" he finds himself sinking into
the abyss of obloquy, whilst the waves of despair,
black and Kissing in their fury gather above the head
of their helpless, hopeless, victim. Such is human
life; but, thanks to the Power that made us weak
tenants of day" it is not all Of the life appointed
for man. There is an existence beyond the reach Of
vcissiude and disappointment; state Of being, over
which present griefs cast shade; and which, like
g the long sunny lapse Of summer days light" woos
softly the dreamless sleep from which we shall rise
renewed regenerated and dsenthralled." With what
fervor and with what extacy does the mind conscious
ofits own recude look forward to the da portal that
is to usher it to the bright realms of everlasting peace
and Joy 1t is the Divinity that srs within US, it
is heaven itself that points out hereafter, and init
mates eternity TO man." With its bright promise be-
| fore him he beholds unmoved the war of elements
the crush Of matter, and the wreck Of worlds, and
gathers himself up ito flee away and be at rest. =
| This is no gay Illusion the 6gment of the poets
brain, but grand, glorious and bright reality, attest
ed by every feeling of the human breast and Swallowed
forth in all creations mighty handywork, that claims
=" an architect divine" The vaies decked in the
gorgeous attire, and the hills clad in the wild blazon
ry Of the tempest the mighty rivers, the ocean with III
countless living myriads, the stars and the greater
lights set in the heavens bespeak alike their common OIL
GIN and cry aloud, the hand that made us is Divine
! Can it be imagined that HE, who made this vast ma
chine for mans subsistence and enjoyment, can have
created him to exist for few short years and then
minge with the senseess lfeless clod of the valley
and sleep the sleep that knows no waklngt'
there earth " dark idoatcr Of chance" so lost
the dignity of his kind to believe that man, To-
whom this system of wonders was made, was not in
tended to be the companion and delight of his Crea
tor, and tthat what He delights in must be happy I
II, then, man was formed for happiness and it ha
pleased the great director Of events to test him il
this vale of tears where that happiness to be found
" This world is all heeting show,
For mans illusion given,
The smiles of Joy, the tears Of woe,
Deceitful shine, decetful flow,
There's nothing true but HEAVEN ~