Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-03-22
No. ".
BAcHELoR's RETREAT. I


MEssRs. EDIToRs,-As huoyunt hope is the
privilege of youth, so sad remembrance IS the lot
of aye. Yet, if we who old have kept our
selves, in our intercourse with the world, untan-
ted 10y guilt or dshonor, memory proves soace
and a stay 10 our declining years, and sheds a
sweet though peusive cam over the evening Oft
our earthly existence. There may he much in
the recollection Of the past attended with sadtlen-
ing associations the nslortunes and The afilic
zion the crushed hopes and the lighted prospects
of ourselves, or of those we hold near and dear
may awaken far other than joyous emotions, and
yet no pleasure ground be more inviting 10 our
soul than the mixed scenes of by.gone days.--
For Time is potent over every thing subunary,
save the corroding canker of renorse. She eau
remove the sting of atflciOn, and, with her sooth-
inp voice, can reconcile us TO uli our woes nnd
under her gentle influence, We may learn 10 cou-
template our past SORROWS with ca'Inness aye,
and il NAV be- with satisfaction aud hankiuness
too. if they have fulfilled their design, and served
to make us wiser and better men.
As have told you before, Messrs. Editors,
am an old man ; old in years, and old in expert
ence. am no stranger 10 life, in any OF its va
riees | have mingled much with my fellow
men, i'm the broad noiB theatre OF The world and
haye ever regarded their individual history with
an observunt eye, and sympathetic heart. Heav-
en- has favored me with comparative excmp-
ton from the strokes oil adversely but oen have
ments, and have thereby gained many lesson
fail of instruction, and pregnant with warning.
Tired with the wordy Jargon, that, with more
than ordinary violence had been assailing my
ears the Ilvelong day, sank into my elbow char
this evening" prepared 20 relish more keenly than
ever that rarest OF all luxurlts III lhIs gregarous
aud familiar age the luxury of being alone. Re-
plenlshing my pipe with IA bouniul supply fthe
Virginia weed, | soon became developed in a
cloud of inv own creation. as odoriierous US any
that breathe incense round the throne OF Jove on
the Olynpan mount. My nerves becoming ruu-
quilted and my spirits composed insensiOly re-
sighed myself to an oblivion of the Present, and
sat, for u good hour or SO, wrapped in the dreary
contemplation of the scenes that Memory, with
her magic wand, coDjured before my view. A.
mong the many "reminiscences that presented
III emseiyes, there was one, which little refec-
tion after had concluded my revery, convinced
me would prove an appropriate supplement TO my
two or three last epistles. Accordingly forth.
with seized my pen, aud reduced II 10 hast,
sketch, which, il you think it will serve 10 poiu
moral" you are at liberty 10 lay before YOU
readers.
The spring time Of life, ere the cold calcula
ting seltishness OF the world has chilled the youni
hears affections, is the season when true aud abb
ding friendship germinales and tuurishes. VIII
is there, that in his youth had not at least, Oh
cherished friend One whose being was close
knit to his own, and whom though after year
may separate they can ALLEVIATE never. In III
possession of such friend did | once rejoice
Our intimacy had its origin in that undehnable al
traction, which uDconsconsly draws together kin
dred minds, without an appeal 10 the will, or
consultation of the Judgment Ii was spoutanc
ousy formed in earliest life, and advancing yeai
only served 10 cement aud to strengthen il. To
gether when first emanci paed from leading string
did we chase the butterflies over The sunny hi
side, together in ripper childhood did we spell out ii
curious mysteries OF the hOrnbOok at the scho
tame'S knee, together in impatient boyhood d
bend over the Grabbed pages OF Marc an
y nophon, and together as fellow 20 wusmen
emulous youth did we generously strive for Il
literary honors OF the University. That friend
the subject OF my sketch. Aud shall first pr,
sent him 10 your acquaintance, as he was, VIII,
he had Just reached that ightesl and most bea,
tiful of all ages, happy enthusiastic twenty one
that PERIOD when the young SOUL nnburdened
cure, undepressed by disappointment, leaps wi
all its native fiery ardOr into the fierce bnllle lc
OF life. AS far rs mortal Judgment could for
know, c. was destined 10 win many u glo
Gus prize in the strife. He united in himself
combination OF qualities, that almost lnlalIibly q
sured success His inteecl was naturally OF 4
most vigorous and capacious order and, by cu
full and long continued regimen, il had develop
itself in all its fullest and lalrest proportions. Ii
thc eagles restless eye il was ever in search Of
vgorulng alimenl, and there was no study in /
whole circle OF literature and The sciences, ire
which il had not appropriated Strength The e
meDis OF his moral character, too, were OF
noblest description. lie was frank, generous u
sincere of innexible uprghlness in iriendsl
ardent and true incapable of malice aud
tal stranger TO envy, and every oiher quality
kindred lteness. Nature seemed to have att
ed every fibre of his heart TO The influence
honor and virtue. Vice. which TO those OF
period OF life usually wears SO seductive an
herself IN 4,
woke his contempt. a naive pride of characl
which scorned every thing base and groye
elevated him infinitely above the reach of
Establishments II is true he was ambitious.
his ambition was no sensual craving for the e,n
~ plaudi.s of The mob but a high and how as
ration TO achieve noble ends by noble means
The fuI6lment of lofty purpose was the Sim
goal, towards which he directed all his youth
energies. In personal appearance he was
markably prepossesslng His high classic TO
head, his quick sparkling eye his flushed che
his finely chseied lip, his dark auburn hair h