Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-06-18

wore before tho Imagination. But 0,
it would not lingcr here to look upon
this theater Of human ambition, ag.
grandizemcnt and degradation, of bu:
ried cities and living tyrants; but fled
with tho velocity that no mathcmoti-
clan could compute.
In another instant, Africa with its
flowing Nile, its demolished Carthage
its towering pyramids, its barren
deserts, its burning climate, its golden
sands, its ivory shores, with its sable
inhubitants--thc victims of cruelty,
degradation and ruin-were all up in
full view in the mental horizon.
was thoroughly convinced that a
principle that could thus grasp nigh.
| ty empires in an instant, and travel
over all created space in moment,
triumphing over weakness, sleep and
prostration of bodily powers, must
doubtless be indestrucliblc, and Of
course eternal. But then what was |
TO do was q poor young crea-
ture, that feared TO open my mind to
any one conscious, too, Of great ig-
norance and weakness; with passions
easily ignited when any real or suppo-
scd indignity was oAered-with in.
tense desires, that a whole universe
could not satisfy-with dread of the
unknown future, that to but glance
at, was wild confusion and horror ex-
tremc. How could | be reconciled
to go, I knew not where, and spend
an eternity I knew not hop! But
here l must stop, for the talent of a
Demosthencs could not adequately de-
scribe my suaerings, my almost utter
despair for years. Sufficient to say
that envied the most poisonous rep
tiles, the most hideous monsters fthe
desert that were incapable Of reason.
ing thus. I frequently opened the
anliquated volume that was read dal-
ly by my parents, but as often turned
from it with disgust. I found it con.
demned my thoughts. words and ac-
tions. felt that if its teachings were
true, 1 was utterly at variance with
them. -
then felt, O! desperate feeling! |!
as if l could dethrone Omnipotenco
itself, for placing me here under such
circumstances. Twas naturally very
unbeliesmg- wanted everything de-
monstrated to my outward senses !;
and as this was religion that the old
Book taught, it is no wonder that |
turned from it with adherence. But
still this pendulum something kept
vibrating. cast my eyes over the
Pagan world. Ifound them all given
to the meanest idolatry-worshiping
not only the host of heaven, but things
too low and base to be named by ra.
tional being. often shuddered at
H.. It'll s,H,;d;,v ,r tbeso senseless
puns 1ae o,,a' nsap .sIp tslt ~ tbe co,sc;ous ST..
periority of the human intellect, over
all animate and inanimate matter; and
.a,,l, "a, hr, hol;eye that there was
some superior and experimenting
Power that kept the reigns Of govern
|
meht oo'n III ''e oe:o'''a. a.: a',u a., 80 ..
tai kiheaonS III i''' wv" fA'"''s"'y
hands.
Then | asked
Grca. God how can it be that mon can bow
To inert matter, and to things SO ow'
To blocks of wood, or aaght beneath tho
skies,
And things so tangible, that mortal eyes
May scan the whole, discover every part
And ana'yze them too, with perfect art
And knov themselves superior to the wliole'
Tho reasoning energies, tho deathless soul
To stoopto worship things, so ba'ely gross,
So subject to decay, to utter loss.
True, they have never been taught
auy divine pyecepts from the Book
that nerolexed me so much
m, ,boy had marked tho seasons in ,hoiI
1iph..
uod scen ,he sin careernr in his light,
And wind. and water falls and counties,
stars,
And DIVING millions in their reckless wars,
And they must feel, there was mighty power
r.,.xoli;,a Al, ,be elements. euch hour.