The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-09-19

HAPPINESS OF OLD AGE.--Nor are
advancing years marked always with
nnpleasing qualities. The eye that is
growing gradually dim, may yet beam
with the Soft light Of Joy, as well as be-
como heavy with the tear Of affliction.
Age often displays gentle and holy af
fections, deep as the foundations Of tho
soul, that dilfnse benignant sunshine
throughout the circle of their influence;
radiant. celestialhopc sometimes cheers
the declining path, and creates q de-,
lightlul composurc of tho heart, alto;
gcthcr unlike "comfortlcss despair"
deserved lonors crown useful life, and
attract yencration and love; for not al.
ways is transcendant merit, though re-
tiring from high stations in the world,
made the sport of "bitter scorn and
grinning infamy." Manhood has mag
nanimous virtues, as well as degrading
vice; victories nobler than wars grand
est triumphs, as well as tcmpcstuous
temptations; worthy, as we'll as ignoble
ambition. What sight is more beauti-
ful, and it may be seen, of friendship,
whose cornerstone was laid by the hand
of youth, growing upward in majestic
simplicity, as every year adds materials
to the enduring fabric, until at last the
sunset Of age giids the structure with
grace ike that of Paradise? Yes, it is
true, that age may meet the smile Of
faithful regard, as well as the CATERED
eye Of hard unkindness." "Amid Sc
vercst woe" hopeful, quiet uncom-
planning temper, alive to the keenness of
sorrow, yet wearing the look of heaven
ly patience, is sometimes seen, as well
as well as "moody madness laughing
Wild" And, finally, age, though
''slow consuming" often reaps the earn:
est of immortal life, and ripens for the.
kies.--Litcrary Wor1d.
A HELP TO ENERGY To-day found
myself compelled to do something, (which
was very disagreeable to me, and which
| had long deferred; I was obliged to
resort tony 'grand expedient' in order
to conquer my aversion. You will
laugh when l tell you what this is; but
| find it powerful in one great things
as we'll as small. The truth is, there
arc few men who are not sometimes ca
pricious, and yet oftener vacillating.
Finding that am no better than others
in this respect, invented remedy of
my own, a sort of articificial resolution
respecting things which are difficult to
pcrform-a means Of securing that firm
ness in myself which I might otherwise
want, and which man is generally OBJ
liged TO sustain by some external prop.
My device, then, is this: I give my
word ofhonor most solcmnly to myself
to do or to leave undone this or that. I
Of course am exceedingly cautious and
discreet in the use of this expedient, and
exercise great deliberation before I re-
solve upon it; but when once it is done,
even if afterwards think l have been
precipato or mistaken, l hold it to be ir-
rcvocabic, whatever inconvenience I
forcsce likely to result, and fee, great
satisfaction and tranquility in being sub
ject to such an immutable law. If I
We're capable Of breaking it after such
mature consideration, I should lose all
respect for myself; and what man Of
sense would not prefer death to such an
alternative?
RELIGION. Bright as the morning
star, dressed in the radiance of the
sun.beams, comcth the scraph Of immor-
taiity.
She approachcth in White robes, her
eye is fixed on the heavens, her knee is
humblcd in the dust, she giyeth laws. TO
the daughters Of women.
She teacheth the way of virtue, her
preccpts are simplicity and truth.
Her profession is pure and undefiled,
her temple is not filled with priests.
The duties she enjoincth are plain
and easy; she dealeth notin the system
of speculative and vain philosophy.
She perplexcth not the mind with the
hypothesis Of sccpticism, neither the
cayillers nor the sophists are tic tcach-
ers of her precepts.
Attend to her counsel and abide by
her instructions; SO shall peace be the
companion Of thy reflections, and .happi-
ness the partner of thy contemplations.
In the practice Of picty there is sat-.
istaction on earth, and its reward is on
high, in the regions Of bliss and immor-
tality.
An lrishman riding to market with @
sack OF potatoes before him, discovered
that his horse was getting tired, where
upon he dismounted, put the potatoes