Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-22
Religious.
There are Storms on Life's dark Waters

AlCr6 Dire DtOFlllS OH Lies dark waters.
Fancy generally sketches her pictures in light;
or, at least, so dsposes the sunshine and shadow,
as to form one harmonious blending, which we
love to contemplate The pencings of truth
are more deeply and darkly drawn, too frequently,
alas without any cheering ray, save that which
the lone star OF hope throws out, as beacon amid
the surrounding gloom. Thus, again and again,
when imagination has been rcvclIing in some
scene of repose, on the wide sea of human life,
the finishing stroke of stern reality would reveal
in the distance a cloud like to a mans hand or
bllow bounding onward, bearing the werck Of
Joys, which Just before seemed destined for cloud
less skies and placid waters Such were the mu-
sings suggested by that POLITICALLY beautiful but
mourufully true sentiment, "therc are storms on
life's dark waters
| see childhood, innocent childhood beside a
font which bears OIL It's bosom a toy-shop, gently
guided in its movements by the influence Of
magnet. As he gazes on that, which he would
fain believe to be the effects of his own skill, he
dreams not Of the wintry day that will CONCEAL
those tiny waves, nor of the cloud that, sooner or
later, will mantle in darkness the sunny sky re-
Elected there; but truth says, even to laughing
childhood, 'there are storms on lites dark wa
ters"
On a lake, where
"Ihc silver light with quiverng glance
Played Ger the waters still expanse"
light skir is gliding. Thoughtess youth is
there uled into forgetlulness by the soft rippngs
of the tide that is bearing his fragile bark on
ward. Yonder vista is the opening to a deeper
channel and more dangerous waves; but he, all
absorbed with the present, thinks not of an adj
verse wind or reAux tide. Shudderng, turned
away, for it needeth not prophetic eye to dis
cern, that ere long, he will prove that, "thcrc
are storms on llfe's dark waters"
Manhood as thou standest by that gallant PROV
why is thy countenance stern, and thy brow Enn
with the indications of rebelous thought? Is
there no music in the pensive wailings of the
wind through the set sails and frightened cordage!
Why dost thou tremble at the lightnings flash,
and why art thou silent when the thunders roar
OF what are they harbingers, that thou should st
long for a hiding-place? Oh! he knows that it
is the dark spirits of the tempest marshal ing the
elements against him, and soon he is to expert
ence, that 'there are storms on lifes dark wa
tiers"
Yonder vessel has cast anchor age is reclin-
ing there, regardless of the helm that has safely
guided his once stately butnow weather-beaten
bark so near its final resting place; its "slver
chords" are loosenng, the sails flap idly to the
winds, and but one more mandate will echo thro'
them; THAT will consign all to oblivion. What
do the rent sails and splntered masts tell off,
What voice have those croaking beams, and sun
dering planks What do the dirge-Iike sounds of
the wave closing over them proclaim! All, all
give back one answer, "therc are storms on life's
dark waters"
Childhood, youth, manhood, age, venture not
on the ocean of life without heavenly pilot a
sacred compass, an anchor cast within the veil
and passport to the heaven of rest beyond for.
''there are storms on lifes dark waters"