Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-03-27

-Ihore were his, and noble purposes and gener
Su rerolyes. The light of genius and of love
nrs met in his dark eye, and words of trust and
Harness dyeIt upon his lips. Ever the sun
VI clowed, and the shades of evening fell, he
sougIt the dell which in romantic sport we had
Id a trusting place, and with kind advice and
aEactionate caress, would seek to beguile the lone
illness of orphanage How patiently would he list
10 all the minute details of some petty trouble
how tenderly soothe, and with gay jest and lively
song, chase childhood tears away. There would
we lnger until reminded by the gathering twilight
of the penalty annexed to an absence from vespers
As watchful as a mother favorite child,
would he wait, until we had disappeared in the
shadows of the tall trees upon the hill, and then
rang out his gay good night" 1t fingers IN our
memory still--its dying cadence seems now IN our
ear. But those halcyon days were soon to close
forever. He left his native land, and we never
saw him more. ''Alas, the sea holds many gem
far richer than barbaric pearl or gold Inc man
ly form, the beaming eye, the oouhdihg heaIt
that beat high with hope and life and love-the
voice of melody. have found their resting place in
coral caves and the ''restess ocean pours its I'M
ceasino requiem above the early grave of our
voung sailor boy He persisted in life's morn
with all its dewY freshness round him, ere one
blight had fallen, or a cloud obscured his sun.
As We muse, memory wanders to the ancient
halls, where in gladness and in sorrow, we spent
many of our chdhood's years. Again think
we hear the ringing shouts and glad voices of play
mates, on the green hill side, again we hear the
bubbling brook-again, the tiny boat, with its
freight of flowers rides upon the mimic wave
again we hook the monster minnow, and bear in
triumph our trophies home. But now. how chang
ei the scene That geeful bandis scattered like au-
tumn leaves, and the friendships we fondy thought
would endure forever, even now, "but name"
The wind sweeps mournfully through the deserted
rooms and long corridors that once echoed to the
music of girlhoods laugh and song-the grass
grows in rank luxuriance where then the rose and
myrtle bloomed, and the owl and bat now find a
home where once dwelt youth and love and beauty.
Wisely, perhaps, is mutability a condition of our
being But it is sad to think that not only the
outward being, but the Utmost feelings of the
heart, must change with years. That time not
only steals the light from the eye, the ruby from
the lip-leaving wrinkle here, and silver thread
there, but that he deals even more relentlessly
with our affection. IT'S sad to feel that those
whom now we mourn with unceasing gref--to
whose memory we cling with jealous affection
whose name we cannot hear without a gush OF
emotion, will cause no other feeling, than
that we give to any dream of the past. That
even our love will lose its romantic ardor, its
morning freshness, though bearing the seal OF
light from Heaven" We greve that with our
years must pass the ardent feelings-the impress
ble heart, the keen enjoyment, the noble purposes
that make youth SO lovely. That we will live to
gaze upon eve like this and see no more ro-
mantle grandeur in the clouds--a melancholy
sweetness in the moons pale lght--no longer feel
that the stars are beauty and mystery" Who
would not bring back, the fresh sunshine of heart,
which babe US believe in all the present seemed,
AMI IN all the brilIiancy with which the future
beckoned US They were Illusions, but they
bright and beautiful, and who does not
r.oa-n Their departure. ALICE.