Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-07-24
Times Takings and Leavinss.
BY THOMAS c. HILL,

Throughout all the phases which nature
presents to US, we have evidence of changes.
History and personal experience both teaches
us that there is one thing which produces all
these effects; its name is time.
Days, months, years and centuries are all
embraced in our notion of time, and we attach
to it the capability of being measured in con-
tradistinction to eternity, which admits of no
numerical calculation.
Time is an object, and with most persons,
one of great Importance. They lay plans and
toll for their completion solely in reference to
the consideration that there will be time suf-
ficient to finish them.
An old man sits upon lofty rock the base
of which is surrounded by the fragments of
by-gone ages; in one hand he holds an hour
glass, in the other scythe. In his left is the
emblem of limited duration-in his right the
symbol of destruction, and arbter of mortal
existence.
Time is limited. and the boundaries are
not very extended. In our age, the period al
lotted to man seldom extends beyond three
score and ten years, and of what consequence
is it to us how long the earth shall endure !;
it is only important as it effects our mortal ex-
istence. The earth may be annihilated, the
sun grow dim, and the stars fade away, yet
man, immortal man, will continue to live,
and think, and act, after the destruction of
this habitable globe
Sitting upon the top of lofty emnence,
your eye rests upon smiling village the
houses, the habitations of civilized man, and
the abodes of peace and comfort, present a
beautiful contrast to the shady woods and
green fields around; the church with its hea-
ven pointing spire, though it be plain, is nev-
ertheless pleasant object, as it stands in the
centre of the little collection of houses Ev-
cry thing is familiar, and to you there is no
place like it, your native village and the home
of your childhood.
Years roll on-you have grown up to mans
estate, and perhaps descending to the sha-
dows of old age; the pleasures of life have
lost their attractiveness, and you take but a
slight interest in worldly things, yet it will
give you solid pleasure to revisit the brow OF
this hill, where many years before, you beheld
the village at your feet
Standing in the same spot and looking in
the same direction as you did then, with what
establishment will you contemplate the vast
changes which have taken place since, when
an idle boy you were accustomed to sport in
! the neighboring meadows. The house in
which you were born and spent your early
/ days has gone, and In its place there stands a
modern edifice, far surprising your humble
notions of the luxuriant and refined The
church also, the prominent buildings of the
village has not been able to brave the change
but on the sacred spot where it stood for ma
ny years, there rears its lofty head, proud
monument Of the skill of the architect; the
meadows are not now to be seen, and you
could not ramble over them even if you were
again restored to the innocent amusements
of childhood
The little sapling which you set out in YOU
youthful days has become great tree; the
acorn buried in the ground has burst its clay
tenement and grown to be giant oak ; your
playmates have become women and men, anC
those who when children lived in the quie
village, now borne down by age, die in The
crowded capital
I A great and almost supernatural change
has transpired since you were boy. Wha
has caused it Ask the woods and lawns
the mountains rearing their heads towards
heaven, and the sunny plains covered witt
verdure, and with united voice they will tel
you it is time.
: The hapless infant soon becomes child
the child gradually, yet certainly progresse
to the season of youth-manhood soon sue
ceeds, and old age brings us speedily to thu
door OF the tomb; the elastic tread, the ROSY
cheek, the bloom of youth, and the gay ant
untroubied spirits are given up; sobriety ant
thoughtfulness succeed. These are at las
changed for the wrinkled face and whitene'
locks, the bended form and forgetfnl memor,
of second childhood.
Not every one passes through these chang
es. Go into the grave yard and ask who arr
; the sleepers there. The tomb-stones vii
not tell you of old age merely, ripened for tn
sephulcre. BY far the greater portion ar
those from the ranks of youth and manhood
Aye, there, too, you will find the little noun
as well as that of the adult; the new bor
babe, helpless infancy, laughing childhood
. and joyous youth-all are there. Time 70
them was short; their earthly existence wa
= not of long duration; the boundary was lin
lG