The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-01

you aimed at the attainment of that cx-
cellencc that comes from doing good, from
acting nobly in the struggle for truth
Have you turned deaf ear to the voice of
the Destroyer Have you passed the
thousand allurements of vice without even
needing for moment the temptation, and
pressed steadily onward toward the goal.
where the hopes and aspirations, of the
virtuous centre' Have you improved
your time in the cultivation of the immor-
tai powers entrusted to your training by
the God that formed you? Have you
risen higher in the scale of moral and mem
tai existence, and is the world better for
yw h,ving I've | and ac;el? Or, are You
among those whose life tells only the side
of error-whose hours have been spent in
your own individual qualification, in the
pursuit of your own selfish and sinful
pleasures without one effort to ameliorate
the woes of suffering humanity, or even
extricate yourself from the whirlpool of
pollution towards whose dreadful centre,
every circling year is carrying you with
rapidity, that may be even now beyond the
power of resistance.
Perhaps prosperity in the things of the
world has attended you, and your head has
been pillowed upon the dust of the far-oG
golden California-your Golfers may have
been filed with the rewards of industry
and perseverance, and you may be sur
rounded with the bounties of life-but
bave you boarded for yourself alone' Has
the poor man sad, and sorrowing, passed
you, and your heart felt no desire TO re-
lieve; Has the chill blasts of winter
pierced the tattered garments of your poor,
but honest neighb6r and have you re-
mained insensible Have millions on
millions famished for lack of the &C bread Of
life," on heather shores and have you in
the full enjoyment of civil and religious
liberty, neglected to contribute of your
abundance for the spread of civilization
and christianity in the world ? The past
may have been a day of prosperity but
God rules among men--and ere another
year is past your boarded treasure may
have "taken wings" Impart of your
substance while yet you may, that the
blessings of Heaven may still attend YOU
Perhaps the past may have been year
of joy, of happiness. The bright being"
by your side whose gently beating heart
echoes to the joyous throbb;ng of your
own, tells in her merry laugh, her beaming
eye, her flushed check, tale of bliss.
Have you thanked God for the "One"
whose very existence has become idcn-
tical with your own' Have you consid-
cred that every thrill of joyous emotion is
one ray from the sun that Eliminates
Paradise Have you prayed daily that
you and yours might live to do good on
earth-to comfort the afflicted, and pour
Tue Dalul OF cOnSOlatlOn into the wounded
spirit Have you lived in the remenl-
brance that life's joys and sorrows arc
ordered by the Being "who Lolds the
waters in the hollow of his hand; )" and
that though thy cup may have run over
with gladness, still if thou fail to ac-
knowledge the hand that gave it, it may
be removed far from thee i;
Perhaps thou hast seen sorrow Per-
chance the form of fond parent that once
gladdened your vision, has now past from
your presence forever. Some spirit that
you lored, that you cherished in the depths
of your heart, perhaps has left you COM
fortress. A brothers. or sisters grave may