Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-01-18

Science had, with win.endeavor. reudcrc,
a grateful retreat for the poet or siudcn,
was seated venerable old mana man o
wealth and tase-of luxurious habits, an,
Of undoubted superiority. Before him, or
the white marble of costly table lay hsap,
OF yellow gold and gittering silver. The
old man was bringing up his accounts for
the inspection Of the New Year. 1t wa.
faiiguoing and Notifying for him to labor.
with his fingers, like mortals Of commoncr
dust; but then the gold and silver had mu.
seal ring, which found an answering repose
away down in the lowest depths of the old
grey-headed mans heart. No instrument.
no matter what its tone, no matter what the
execution, ever played half so sweet an air.
or discussed such eloquent music to his soul.
No breath Of Heaven--no flower of the
earth--no fruit Of any cline, was ever half
so grateful to the senses of an enthusiast.
as was the handling of those shining metals
to that aged worshipper cinnamon.
He had finished his task, and the white
shrunkcn fingers closed lovingly over his
treasures. when a sudden pang caused the
hands to trembIe, and the lip to CULVER with
suffering. 1t might have been the pang, or
1t might have been the siIvery voice of the
gorgeous clock on the manteI, which sud.
denly struck the first quarter after mid,
night, that startled the old man. and pressed
his thoughts into a new channel He was
evidently MISUNDERSTANDING Of something
beslke his goId-of something not half 90
p!oasant--of something which made his
heart tremb!e, as did bis hand minute be.
fore. Perhaps the old man thought the mid
night Of life had passed with him, and thai
his hours were vcrg,ng upon the dawn Of
a new existence. Perhaps vision Of the
narrow house, appointed unto all, with its
GOODNESS, lis loneliness. its terrors, and OH
miserable thought.--its wretched poverty
rose up before hjm--bef0re him, too. who
had so hated poverty--who thought the
poor so vile-who shrunk from contact with
indulgence, as from hateful eprosy-who
had never known a want which riches, dig
nifty, or case might suPply-who Ioathcd
the wretched, and despIsed the neccssitous.
Could it be that he must feel the pinchipg
gripping hand Of Death, and know that gold
his gold--could not purchase moments
respite--that his hand should stftn, his
eyes sink, and the blood stagnate in his
veins;--that he should die--die-like mis-
cradle paupcr! Poor old man! he had never
entertained so dreadful a guest before--so
dreadful guest as this horrible thought of
Death. Why did it cling to him, then, with
such terrible tenacily! Why haunt his
frightened soul at that awful hour-at that
hour whose passing moments fell coldly-
heaviIy--upon his heart, as falls The insen
safe cIod upon the cchoing coffin? Alas! for
the spirit Of the scythe and glass was near
him. saw his shadow on the old mans
face-behold his palsy in those aged hands
--aud the old man saw ii toe; for he cas-,
frightened glance around, as his treasures
receded from his sight, started to his feet,
tottered-and fell--and diedl
The angel plucked glowing leaf from
the tablets, placed it in his bosom, bowed
his head, and passed from the threshold.
Once again we stood Invisible, reading
the hearts of the children of men.
1t was a low, cold, dark chamber; the dy.
ing Goals upon whose hearth, with the poor
/ Pickering taper above, scarcely served for
light amid the surrounding shadow. Near
to the pitiful fire his form wasted by disease
| his eye sunken and dimmed by the deadly
spirit that sits in the wine.cup, lay the
mournful remnant Of what once had been a
mana man rich in inteect--rich in love
rich in the respect and admiration of his
| fellows--rich in the inestimable treasure OF
woman's affections. He had not fallen sud
denly; but slowly, cautiously, had the subtle
poison entered his soul. He tasted, first to
please his cheerful, warm, hearted friends
they extended the cup, and he did drink
Soon, madness entered hia brain--poverty
stood at his door-disease came-dea,l
! INSTRUMENTATION was -self.respec
+ had fown-his ioviaI friends deserted hin
and there was but one heart in the wide
T world that cared for the hopeless inebra,e