The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-03


you that at that time loved. My simple soul,
ungified with the wisdom of our aged relative,
had Welded to the delicious folly, and the brown
eyed Eva was my young hearts choice. 0 broth
er, even now, the feeble and wlthered thing am,
dim recollections, pleasant passages, como forth
around me- like the JOY of old dreams A boy
again. and in the con6dng heart of the boy,
walked with Eva bv the rivers banks And the
gentle creature bushes at my prote stations oflove
and leans her cheek upon my neck The regal
sun gors down in the west and gaze upon the glo-
ry of the clouds that attend his setting, and while
we look at their fantastic changes, laugh sounds
out, clear like flute, and merry as the Jlnglng
of silver bells 1t is the laugh of Eva"
The eye of the old man glistened with un-
wonted brightness He paused, sighed, the bright
ness faded away, and he went on with his narra-
tion.
GAS I said, the dying lessons of hlm whom we
reverenccd were treasured in my soul. l could
not but feel their truth. feared that if Iagain
stood beside the maiden of my love, and looked
upon her face, and listened to her words, the
wholesome axiolns might be blotted from my
thought so determined to act as became man /;
from that hour. never have beheld the brown
eyed Eva.
II went amid the world Acting upon the
wise principles which our aged friend taught us,
looked upon everything with suspicious eyes
Alas! found it but too true that iniquity and de-
ceit are the ruling spirits of men.
"Some called me cold, calculating, and unamia-
Bile; but it was their eyes. [ am not-you know,
my brother-I am not, naturally, of proud and re-
pulsive manner but was determined never to
give my friendship merely to be blown off again,
it might chance as feather by the wind; nor in
terweave my course of life with those that very
likely would draw all the advantage of the con-
no vim and leave mo M hetter than before
"I engaged in traffic Enemies said that my
good fortune was the result of chance but knew
was the fruit of the judicious system of caution
which governed me in matters ofbusiness, as well
as of social intercourse.
'My brother, thus have lived my life. Your
looks ask me if have been happy, Dear broth
er, truth impels me to say Yet assuredly, II
few glittering pleasures ministered to me on my
Journey, equally few were the disappointments,
the hopes bighted, the trusts betrayed, the faint
ings of the SOUL caused by the detection of those
in whom had laid up treasures.
"Ah, my brother: the world is full of mise
ryl"
The desciple of wretched faith, ceased his
story, and there was silence a while.
Then Nathan spake:
ain the early years." he said, ri too loved
beautiful woman Whether my heart was more
frail than thine, or affection had gained might
er power over me, could not part from her |
loved without the satisfaction of farewell kiss.
We met,-I had resolved to stay but moment
for had chalked out my future life after the fash
ion thou has described thine.
'1ow it was know not, but the moments roll
ed on to hours; and still we stood with our arms
around each other.
"My brother, maidens tear washed my stern
resolves away. The lure Of voice rolling quiet
ly from between two soft lips, enticed me from re-
memberance of my grandsire's wisdom. 1 for
got his teachings, and married the woman 1 low
'Ah! how swcetly sped the seasonl We were
blessed. True there came crosses and evils but
we withstood them all, and holding each other by
the hand, forgot that such thing as sorrow
mained in the world
'Children were born to us-brave boys and
fair girls. Oh, Mark, that, that, Isl pleasure
that swelling of tenderness for our offspring,
which the rigorous doctrines Of your course of
life have withheld from you.
"Like YOU, 1 engaged in trade Various for
tunes followed my path. l will not deny that
some in whom l thought virtue was strong, prov
ed cunning hypocrtes and worthy no mans
trust. Yet are there many have known spot
less, as far as humanity may be spotless.
'Thus, to me- life has been alternately dark
and fair. Have L lived happy2 No, not COM
pletely; it is never for mortas so to be. But
can lay my hand upon my heart, and thank the
Great Master that the sunshine has been far of.
tener than the darkness of the clouds.
"Dear brother, the world has misery-but it is
a pleasant world still, and affords much joy to the
dwrllers
AS Nathan ceased, his brother looked up in his
face like man unto whom a simple truth had
been for the first time revealed.
THE EPoRrRA1rs.-Did you ever hear the sto-