The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-03
From the Democratic Review.
LEGEND OF LIFE AND LOVE.


feelings, rehteousy directed, because the conse
ouence NAV be trouble and gr eff as we'll as salts
faction and pleasure. The man who lives on iron
wear to year, Jealous of ever pl1eing himself IN
situation where the chances can possibly turn
against him-ice, as 1t were, surrounded his heart
and his mind too scrupulously weighing IN bal
enee the results of giving away to any OF those
propensities his Creator has planted in his heart
may be a philosopher, but can never be hap
py man.
Upon the banks of pleasant river stood cot
taqe, the residence of an ancient man whose
limbs were feeble with the weight of years and
of former sorrows. In his appetites easily gratl
fed like the simple race of people among whom
he lived, every want of existence was supplied by
a few fertile acres Those acres were titled and
tended by two brothers grandsons of the old man,
and dwellers also in the cottage The parents oi
the boys lay buried near by.
Nathan, the elder, had hardly seen his twen-
tieth summer He was beautiful youth Glossy
hair clustered upon his head, and his cheekswere
very brown from sunshine and open air. Though
the eyes of Nathan were soft and liquid, like a
girls and his cheeks cuFlcd with a voluptuous
swell exercise AMI labor had developed his limbs
into noble and manly proportions The bands OF
hunters as they met sometimes to start off togeth-
er after the game upon the neIghborlng hills,
could hardly show one among their number who
with the youthful Nathan.
Mark was but year younger than his brother.
He too, had great beauty.
In course of time the ancient sickened, 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 81 wisdom iS wary
And as the things of life are only shadows.
passing like the darkness of cloud, twinc no
bands of love about your hearts. For love rs the
fcklest of the things of life. The object of our
affection dies, and we thenceforth anguish in ago
NJ; or perhaps the love covet dies, and that is
more painful yet.
at is we'll never to confiIe in any man. 1t is
& ell to keep aloof from the folcs and impurities
of earth. Let there be no links between you and
o:hers Let not any being control you through
your dependence upon him for portion of your
happiness. This, my sons, have learned by bit
ter experience, is the teaching of truth"
Within a few days afterward the old man was
placed away in the marble tomb of his kind
dred which was built on hill BY the shore.
Now the iujrEHctio4 given to Nathan and his
b,other-inj1nctioHs frequently impressed upon
them before by the same monitoriaI voice-were
pondered over by each youth, in his inmost heart.
sire: whatever came from his mouth, therefore,
seemed as he words of an oracle not TO be gaiusay-
ed.
Soon the path of Nathan chaRccd to be sunder-
ed from tina: of Mark.
And the trees leaved olt, and then in autumn
east their foliage; and in due course leaved out
again and again, and many times again-and the
brothers met not yet.
Two score years and ten what change works
or1A I
tenl
As the sun an hour ere setting cast long slant.
ing shadows to the eastward, two men withered
and with hair thin and snowy, came wearily up
from opposite directions, and stood together at a
tomb built on hill by the borders Of fair river
Why do they start as each casts his dim eyes to-
ward the face of the other2 Why do tears drop
down their cheeks, and their frames tremble even
more than with the feebleness of age. They are
the long separated brethren, and they unfold them
selves in one another's arms.
"And yet" said Mark, after few moments step
ping back, and gazing earnestly upon his COM
panions form and features, Hand vet it wonders
me that thou art my brother. There shoad be a
brave and beautiful YOUTH with the black curs up-
on his head, and not those pale emblems of decay.
AMI my brother should be straight and nimbie.
not bent and tOttering as thou"
The speaker cast a second searching eIance-
glance of discomfort.
'And l." rejoined Nathan, 81 might require
from my brother, not such shriveled limbs, as 1
see and instead of that cracked voice. the full
swelling music of a morning heart-but that ha If
century it is dear brother, since my hand touch
ed thine, or my gaze rested upon thy face"
Mark sighed and answered not
Then, in little while, they made injuries
about what had befalen enduring the time past
Seated upon the marble by which they had met,
Mark briefly told his story.
81 be.hink me, brother, many, many years
have indeed passed over since the sorrowfuf dav
when our grandsire, dying, left us TO seek our
fortunes amid a wicked and seductive World.
"Hs last word, as thou, doubtless, dost rernem-
Der, ADVISED US against the snares that should be-
set our subsequent journeyings. He portrayed
the dangers which lie IN the path of love; he inn.
pressed upon our minds the folly of placing con-
naence IN human honor; and warned us to keen
aloot from too close communion with orr L;nd
He then died, but his Instructions live and have have
ever been present in my memory
"Dcar Nathan, why should conceal fro,