The Columbian fountain., 1846-08-14
From the Richmond Republican.
A FRAGMENT.
BY "E scHYLUs. Z"
For the glance

/ q VI melancholy Is a fearful gilt; &.
Ea What is il but the telescope Of truth ?
Which strips thy future Of its phantasies;
And brings life near in utter nakedness,
Making the cold reality too real.--BYRoS. 4
was sad! Iknew notwhy! My thoughts
were tinged with gloom, and each exertion
to dispel my sadness, vainly ended, leaving
my mind folded more closely in its shroud
of sombreness. .554IaJ ts Ga1fs
1t was strange and indefnable feeling
Ia chaos Of shade without form and void
Ia phantom Of gloom, dim and indistinct,
all nnrecognised by the minds eye; yet the
soul JeR its poisonous breath wreath
round the flowers of Hope, and in it's dead
ly aroma their perfume vast lost, and their
beauteous hues gradually faded, till nought
was seen but the withering leaves robed in
its misty hues of darkness. Who can solve
the mystery Of mind Who can fathom
the depths of the souls deep ocean, and
from its immeasurable caves pluck its hid
den treasures, the unpublished, priceless
gems; its vast, its infinite, its exhaustless
stores? /? In its darkest caverns Of gloom it
doth conceal jewels of the brightest lustre;
whose dazzling scintilations are all absorb
in the surrounding mist. Anon we see the
light Of one Of the brightest heave its way
up through the opposing waves, retaining all
its g)ittering brightness ill on the lofiiest
billowtits strange and fitful glare for an in
.stant fingers, and then, like a meteor, van
ishes away, consumed by its own resplen1
Idency.H .l.,A N. a'. .'i, ,.,. '.''. 1.-..7., /,
was sad ! cannot tell what others
think, but to me the hours Of melancholy
are the happirst ] experience and in my
darkest mood, L feel like soul reft of its
clay, and like an unfettered bird | fly, song
less but thoughtful, from world to world,
forgetful Of all things living, .deyouring with
my greedy sight the untold beauties Of the
world os.thought.sa 81 slrGasa ga. III (,
was sad and in this mood | wandered
forth to gaze upon the face Of nature thro'
this telescope of truth, and mark all its
living colors tinged with my gloominess.
Onward went, without an aim; smileless
and silent. The face of nature was serene
and wreathed with half-born smiles, like the
smile of Spring; when the carnation Of
health was struggling with winters palor.
Before me, on my way, saw one lead
ing by the hand two little babes, whose
feet scarce obeyed their wishes; for, full Of
eagerness, they would have run, but their
uniutored feet delayed their steps. His
men was one Of careless unalloyed joy; and
he sauntered along with a happy ease, lis
tening with delight to the. merry prattle Of
his infants voices; to whose enquirng eyes
the book of nature unfolded each day new
and beautiful page. There was sparkle
in his eye, and a smile aupon his lip, and
on his hrow calm serenity, which plainly
told that tickle Joy had folded his wayward
wing, and nestled in his happy, peaceful
breast; and as passed him by, a shade of
bitternesss fitted Ger my reast-bitterness
at my own hapess lot, whose pangs were
doubly poignant when contrasted with this
fathers joy. r,... .w.
!. How happy | exclaimed, 'how happy
is that fathers heart How like Elyslum is
his home For domestic peace doth wreath
its garlands round his polished brow, and
love doth whisper to his heart its soltest
numbers, till its strain steals into the souls
deepest caverns, and echo awakes, hnging
back the notes mingled with its strange
mystic melody, until its harmony hath set
every chord of the soul IN motion, and as
they vibrate meath the witching tones, the
full breast heaves and swells, and the whole
frame quvers with ecstatic bliss, while lis
tening to this delicious music Of Love. Al
as alas his happiness doth make me dou-
bly, sad
passed him by; but my thoughts dwelt
upon that happy father, till, almost in envy,
/ wished were father too. passed him
by; but he was still with me in my walk
and the picture Of welded bliss was ever
before my eyes, and through its medium ]
saw my own misery, till it changed to an
guish passed him by; bn, something
stole over my soul, and gentle whisper
did reveal that should see him yet again,
and his face should tell me of his heart. IL
was so. " th
went to my lone room and gazed around
upon lis cheerrulness /; but its very air of
gloom chimed in with The desolation OF my
own heart. Had it looked gay, my breast
had felt more sad. seized my loved gui-
tar, and swept my fingers over its chords,
and, as though answering TO my mood, the