The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-16

fragrance, the odor of the virtue of one
who, amid the storms ofpublic life, fulfilled
his high destiny, and accomplished the end
of his existence upon earth
But if, thought l., only one amid this
great company, can be found, whose object
in life il was to promote the glory Of God,
what was the motipe which Influenced to
action all the remaining number' Was it
patriotism Was it an ardent, burning love
for the land Of their birth ?--the asylum
of liberty! Was it to honor their country?
to make her great, respectable, and glorious,
before the eyes Of an admring world9 All,
there are but few--and but few-here
and there single one, who were Influenced
by such a laudable; such God-worthy mo-
tive! And these, though but handful, in
cluding the honored individuals, whose OBJ
ject was the promotion Of Gods glory, (for
in promoting that glory, he necessarily full
filled the duties of patriot,) these were
patriots, true and worthy While contem-
plating them, pictured to myself the sighs
and groans, wrung from their hearts by the
miseries of their fellow -ctizens-the men
tai conflict and spirit-burning, which agita-
ted them, when they saw their loved coun-
try given over almost to dissoluteness, and
abandoned almost to the influence of evil
and corrupt principles. fancied saw the
tears they had shed in secret, and the fer
vent prayers which they had offered up for
her salvation and prosperity. And then,
too, thought heheld them, bold and in
,repd-in the hour Of danger, rushing into
the front OF the peril, exposing their lives
to ruin, and hazarding the comfort and
peace of their families forever, rsking for
tune, reputation, and all for their loved land
of freedom; and | admired-I loved-I
breathed out silent prayer for their ever
lasting happiness, and | said, Let the
place be marked where reposes their ashes!
Let honor's shrine be erected there Let
her votaries bring to that shrine, daily, their
choicest, and richest offerings ~
And of the rest, thought |, what induced
them to enter the strife, and toll, and tu-
multi, of public life They were neither
christians, or patrots-they cared neither
for the glory of God, or the good of their
country. They were mere earth-mongers,
fame worshippers. They sought seIf-praise,
self-popularity, and self-aggrandizement
ldolaters, they carried their votive offerings
daily to the shrine of the tickle goddess,
and there, in mean servility, laid them up
on her altar Wrapt up completely in
their own selfishness, they could smile with
disdain at the tear Of a fellow creature; they
could, with seeming pleasure, rejoice at the
sorrows of others, and tread with proud
step and naughty mien, upon humanity and
religion--upon all that is good and virtu-
Gus. Determined to "rule or ruin,n thew
care for nothing that is peac eful in society
nothing that is blessed in social endear-
ment-nothing that is sacred and lovely in
igion-nothing that is great and glorious
in national prosperity Standing below
they cast an eye upward, to the dizzy sum-
NIT of popularity, and behold charming
angel beckoning them onward, and holding
forth to their view rich reward, which
seemed to them to sparkle in the morning
sunbeams. And, allured by the promise,
they determined to gain the height, though
they should be obliged, in overcoming the
obstacles in their way, 10 ruin the peace of
family, or crush to atoms the prospect
of great and growing nation Few of
them however attained the acme. Clam
ber'ng up the fearful sleeps, which present
ed themselves in their way, they were hurl-
ed over into the fearful abysses, which
yawned before and around them on every
hand.
Having finished my inspection, babe
them return again to their graves, marking
the spot, where each lay down to repose
until the resurrection morn.