The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-03-03
From the Laties Companion,
LIFE.
A STRUGGLE FOR UNATTAINED GOOD


giles, s,perseverng'y increasingly. From infancy
TO youth, from manhood 10 extreme age, all
his efforts are put forth for the attainment OF
his desires. One by one they are grsufied,
and he IS happy. One by one they are crush
ed and he is wretched. Yet despair is never
quite despair and he hopes on, ever One
goal reached, another presents itself, and yet
another, still time after lime does he strain ev-
cry nerve and brlng into action his every pow
or.
have been in The bosom Of family, where
you h, beauty, and genius, eowed IN each
counenance Their heariswere laid open TO
me, and when saw there, hopes whose color-
iDgs would shame the many -hued bow which
beauties the heavens, wondered not. And
when read in those young souls, schemes
glorious even as the brightest sunbeam wen
dered not.
Bur found myself 10 another household,
wnere poverty and sqdald want were written
on the brow Of The veriest child, and misery
had deepened furrOwS on Tie fronts oil those
whose noon life had not yet come; and when
looked for darkness and despair, found each
loing wuh ANXIOUS eye and throbbing heart,
for goal which they thought to reach. ga
and unceasngIy'
went out and wandered far, musing on the
past, the present, and The future, and thoughts
unbdden we're rushing through themnd when.
the hum Of many voices arrested my attention.
A group Of children was before me. Oh, how
they laughed and danced, shouted and frolick-
ed in the joy Of their young hearts. Now the
merry chorus filed the air with melody, and
then the full rich laugh rung gIeefulIy upon the
evening breeze. The live-long afternoon had
they sported. Here, where the aazels cluster
SO thickly, they had played at Hide and 60
seek, 'II the stoutes painted for rest. There
where the brook bubbles It's Clear cold waters
round those smooth and slippery stones, they
| had followed the leader TIL The heart ofthe
most venturesome failed HIM. And for what
| did they toll?
'Ob! i'll could be leader once' said tiny
creature, and her full dark eye showed the SEM
blance of a tear
| TRY, Clara, Try resounded on all sides.
'Yee, Try sisier, the stones are not very far
apart said little lad on whose brown ruddy
cheek, dozen summers had told tales of hap
pIness.
Then Cl'ra stepped on The CLASSY stone, but
do it.
TRY again, Clara said her brother
And again and again she tried, till her little
foot rested firmly on the damp stone, and she
went boldly on. On the opposite side was a
high rock and the little girl could not reach
its top, so she turned her course down the
brook, after she had wslEuy eyed the rock,
and she said
oh! how wish was very little larger,
that might lead over that high bank
looked on those beautiful children no lon-
ger, for the little Clara's wishes had repeated
the esson-'Ths life is but struggle for
something yet unattained.'
Time passed, and stood on The deck Of a
noble steamer. Around me were clustered
hundreds OF both sexes, all eges, and every
rank. Intent on nv study of life, silently
passed from cluster TO cluster; There was one
group in which owing youth and dazzling
beauty made picture ef singular loveliness,
and near them paused.
'Clara my sweet sister, said one, whose
manly brow wore slight shading of gloom.
A beautiful being turned at the sound Of his
voice, and the cloud passed away. But thai
countenance! lgazed on it, and Memory's
Harp ruug loud and joyouSly as she sung
The buds you loved on the greensward, are
before you in their full and perlec, beauty
'Cara, in the simplicity Of your infant hear
you tolled TO be 'lesder' on the stepping
stones ofa purng brook. Time sped away
aud the strings of the harp quiyered beneath
your touch, or The guitar sep, forth its melodies
I'LL strains which Apollo might envy entranced
your admiring friends, Then, dearest, you
had reached The goal for which you had toiIet
for weary mon,hs. Now, Clara, your young
heart has thirsted for the idoltary which mind
awakens, till tumuluous lhrobbings had al
but destroyed its resting place. Fast as thit
noble boat bears you from yon crowded city
do you leave behind you the scene of YOU
temptation. Calm thee, siset! Como now tC
home, and you shall dwell in IFS pure atmOs.
phcre, and shielded by those who love YOU en-.
Wy. jealousy, and the strings Of hated cIilislsn
will not disturb your peace. There the curren
oil your life may Aow free from The taint o
worldllness, and from The darker stain Of I'M
hallowed ambition. Dost hear my reason fol
urging you TO leave yOn charmed clrcIel
d Jst trust in my love, sweet sisterH
Ernest, your wo'ds fall upon my bewilder
ed senses, and The tempest Of passion is hush
ed, even as The mad waves were stilled by Hi
: i. 1. II