Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-12-03
from The Democratic Rcrictc.

| tura feelings righteously directed, because
the consequences may be trouble and grief, as
well as satisfaction and pleasure. The man
who lives on from year TO year, Jealous of ever
/ placing himself in situation where the
chances can possibly turn against hin.-cc, as
! it were Surrounding his heart, and his mind
too scrnpalonsly weighing in balance the re-
suit of giving away to any of those propensi-
ties his Creator has planted in his Ireart-mav
be philosopher, can never be happy man,
Upon the banks ola pleasant river stood
cottage, the residence of an ancient man whose
limbs were feeble with the weight ofycars ard
Of f,rmer sorrow. In his appetitcs, easily gra-
tined, like the simple race OF people among
whom he lived, every want of existence was
| supplied by few fertile acres. Those acres
were titled and fenced by two brothers. grand
! sons Of the old man, and dwellers also in the
cottage. The parents of the boys lay buried
! near by.
Nathan, the elder, had hardly seen his twcn-
| tieth summer. He was beautiful youth,
! glossy hair clustered upon his head, and his
cheeks were very brown from sunshine and
/ open air. Though the eyes of Nathan were
I soft and liquid, like a girls, and his cheeks
| curlcd with a voup,uous swell, exercise and
labor had developed his limbs into noble and
manly proportions. The bands Of hunters as
( they met sometimes to start off together after
7 the game upon the ncighboring hills, could
hardly show one among their Numbers who in
confines, strength or activity might compete
with the youthful Nathan.
Mark was but year younger than his bro
thcr. He, too, had great beauty
In course OF time the ancient sckened and
knew that he was to die. Before the approach
Of the fatal hour, he called before him the two
! youths, and addressed them thus
"The world, my children, is full of deceit
Evil men swarm in every place and sorrow
and disappointment are the fruits of intercourse
with them. So wisdom is wary.
"And as the things of life are only shadows,
passing like the darkness of cloud. twine no
bands of love about your hearts. For love is
( the fckeSt of the things OF life The object
I of our affection dies, and we thcncctorh Ian
guish in agony; or perhaps the love we covet
dies. and that is more painful yet.
at is well never to confde in any man. 1t
is well TO keep alooffrom follics and iniquitics
of earth, Let there he no links between you
and others. Let not any being control you
through your dependence upon him ioe por-
ton of your happiness. This, my sons, | have
learned by titter experience, is the teaching
of truth"
Within few days afterwards the old man
was placed away in the marble tomb OF his
kindred, which was built on the shore
Now the injunction given To Nathan and his
brother-injuctions frequently impressed upon
them before by the same monitoral voice
were pondered over by each youth in his in.
most heart They had always habitualy re,
spected their grandsire ; whatever came from
his mouth, therefore seemed as the words OF an
oracle not 10 be galnsayed.
Soon the path of Nathan CHANGED TO be sun,
dered from that of Mark.
And the trees leavcd out, and then in autumn
cast their foliage ; aud in course leaved out
again, and again, and many times again-and
the brothers met not yet,
Two score years and ten what change
works over earth in such space as two score
years and ten!
As the sun, an hour ere setting, cast Ions
slanting shadows, 10 the eastward, two men
withered, and with hair thin and snowy, cam,
up from opposite directions and stood togethe
at tomb built on hill by the borders Of fa
river. Why do they start, as each casts hi
dim eyes towards the face otthe other ! VII,
do tears drop down their checks, and thci
frames tremble even more than with the feeble
ness of age, They are the long separated
brethren, and they eniold themselves in on
, anothcr's arms
And yet said Mark, after a few moment,
stepping back, and gazing earnestly upon hi
companion's form aud features, 'aRG yet
: wonders me that thou art my brother. Ther
l should be a brave and beautiful youth, wit
Il black cnrls upon his head, and not these pal
d emblems Of decay. And my brother should
d straight and nimble-not bent and totterng q
thou
, The speaker casts a second searching
~ glance Of discomfort
T. And H. rejoned Nathan, 4 might requir
from my brother not such shrivelled limbs as