American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-09-10

THE CLOUD AND THE SUNSHINE

THE CLOUD AND THE SUNSHINE.
THE PHILOSOPHY or LIFE.
Conversing with distinguished individual 4
few days since, he said that ia early life he en-
perienced disappointment which threatened
ior time tc PROSTATE him utterly. He had
aimed at obtaining situation of some honor
and emolunent-had devoted his time and en-
ergies 10 the object for many months, and had
failed, at The moment, toe, that he thought
the prize Just within his reach The result was
n mt OF melancholy, nay, of despair. He
thought that his worldly prospects were over
shadoweC, and for ever-that life to him was a
comparative blank, and Tor long period he
was unable to rouse himself from the gloom
despondcncy-and disappointment. Never
.heless," he added, "lf /! could have read the
future, ! would have seen at once, that what
seemed to me a disaster, was in reality bless
ing-for if | had obtained the situation to
which had so long looked with hope and cx-
pectation, / would have been prevented from
embracing an opportunity of advancement and
fortune, which subsequently presented, and
which has since formed the leading feature of
prosperity in my career How often do We
realize circumstances somewhat similar? How
often do we mistake fer adversities events and
nsioEtunes which, could we see the whole dra-
ma OF N!e-could we look into the mysterious
future, as we'll as along the Iecedinr past,
would at once appear as designed for our per-
manea. advantage. So, too, with unlocked
TO. prosperity, with sudden accessons OF
wealtI-pccuniary successes At first, and to
tie superficial, such good fortune appears
tiaught with independence, luxury, ease and
ell the ordinary accessories OF worldly happ-
ness. And yet it is as likely to lead TO disap-
po;ntment, to deness and to ruin as to preccde
a condition Of even earthly felicity. Some
one las said beautifully and forcibly, that ''the
clouds Of disappointment with some minds, e.
tects more good than perpetual Sunshine
through life. He who dsregards the burst of
me former, is preferable TO him who langudly
basks beneath the latter The leaf that is oc-
casionally refreshed by shower, is more -four
shing than that withered by the suns rays
Is it not SO! Lock around you, and read the
history ot'lite, its chances and changes; the pro-
gress for veal or woe, of even the circle in
which you moved in childhood. Call memory
10 your aid, and bring back some case which in
moment of mental gloom, you regarded as
one of rare fortune--looked up to with admica-
ton, and enved. The case, for example, Of
some INDUCED boy, whose parents doated up
on him, believed that his endowments were srl-
peror, and at the same time neglected to de-
velop either his physical or mental resourcee.
They yielded to al! bis whims and caprices.--
They permitted him to neglect his studies, -
they would not suffer him to learn any ,cgu-
lar occupation, but humored him in all his de-
slres no matter how indolent, or how calcu-
lated to weaken and destroy the good qualities
which he possessed naturally. Run your mind
over the pages of memory, and single out some
such object Of you: early envy. The chances
were nine to one if qou bringing up were in
contrast, if you were fitted for the clouds as
we'll as the sunshine Of life, that the spoiled
boy now needs and deserves your Sympathy
II seems to be Il law Of nature and Of destiny
that al! who refuse tc exercise the energies and
powers given them by the deity, shall, as I
penalty, and sooner or later, become victims
OF their own Incidence and vices. Efort,-
activity Of mind and body, are absolutely eS-
sential 10 happness--at least while mind and
body are unaffected BY the influences OF age
Great effort, y" it has been said, ''from great
motives, is the best definition Of happy life
while the easiest labor is a burden to him who
has no motives for performing it." True phi
losophy, then, would seem to argue that occu-
patton is essential 10 q peasurable condition of
earthly eXistence-that Che higher, nobier and
more virtuous our objects, the more elicitous
are cur mental and neral enjoymcnts, while
even clouds and misfortune, when received
n the proper spirit, regarded as admoni-
tons from on high, designed to remind US of
our responsibilities and dependence upon Pro-
violence, should be considered rather as bless
.ngs THAI otherwise. Perfect felicity, unalloyj-
&c happiness, cannot be expected in this life
All have their secret griels. There cannot in
The nature OF things be permanent enjoyment
on this side the grave. But, ;nasmuch as the con-
solutions OF virtue mpart to the human mind,
far more real pleasure than any indulgence of
vice,-inase!uch as guilt and crime have their
-etribution sooner or later even this side the
grave-polcy and wisdom, te say nothing Of
duty, urge US in choosing our path, to select
that in which we may walk with most accepta-
bllity to our own consciences, and i'll the eyes
Of the Just, of TIE good, and of Heaven.
HUNcRY. 1t has been recently aecertained in
England that the inmates of some CT their work
houses, employed IN crushing the bones ofhor-
ses and other aniE,als, have been in the habit
ofea'ing the gristle found upon them 20 satisfy
their hunger.
HE PoTATo CRor OF MAINE. A gentle
man from the county OF Oxford, Maine, states
that in all the northcrn region of that State the
potato crop is exceedingly injured by the rot
N some places the vines are growing with We
~ few and small potatoes, and those mostly
rotten. This calamity is not confined to the
northern counties; in Cumberland county the
same state Of things Is stated to exist. From