Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-16

JoB 2Ed, 2-3.--Y9nd JOB sPoke and said
let The day perish, rherein 1 uas born.
(Concluded.)
And that this Is not a mere assumption
7 infer in the next place from experience
And there are two points in this experienc
TO be noticed. First, love of life prove
that il is blessing. Ifit is not, why ar
men so attached to it Will il be said tina
il is the dread of something after death tha
binds man TO life ; But make the case
fair one for the argument; say, for instance
that the souls of men sleep after death til
the resurrection, and would not almost ev
erv man rather live on during the interme
disate space, than to sink to that temporar.
oblivion?
But to refer in the next place to con
sideration still palmer and less embarras
sing, why are we so attached TO our loca
situation in life, to our home, to the spo
that gave us birth, or to any place, no mat
ter how unsightly or barren, though it were
the rudest mountain or rock, on which the
history of years has been written? Will
it be said that it is habit which endears oul
residence3 But what kind Of habit? A habit
of living miserable The question needs nc
reply. Will You refer me to the pathetic
story of the aged prisoner of the Bastiie
who on being released and coming into the
world desired to return to his prison and
argue from this, that maa may learn ia
love even the glooms Of a dungeon, Prov,
ded they become habitual' But why did
that aged prisoner desire to return 1t was
not because he loved the cold shadow OF
his prison.walls but it was as the story in
forms US, because his friends were gone
from the earth; it was because no living
creature knew him, that the world was dark
er to him than the gloomy dungeons ofthe
Bastile. It shows how dear are the ties OF
kindred and society. 1t shows how strong
and how sweet are those social affections
which we never appreciate, till we are cut
off from their joys, which glide from heart
to heart, as the sunbeams pass unobserved
in the daylight of prosperity; but II ray
of that social kindness visits the prison OF
our sickness and affection, it comes to US
like beam of heaven. And though we
had worn out life in confinement, we 60
back again to meet that beam OF heaven,
the smile oe society and If we do not md
it, we had rather return to the silent walls
that know US, than to dwell in world that
knows us not.
But after all, and as matter of fact, how
many miseres it may be saic are bound
up with this life, too deeply interviewer
with it and too keenly felt TO allow it TO be
called favored and happy life Besides
evils of common occurrence and account
besides sickness and pain and poverty, be.
sides disappointment and bereavement and
sorrow, how many evils are there that are
not embraced in the common estimate; e.
wills that are secret and silent, that dwell
deep in the recesses of life, that do not
come forth 10 draw the public gaze OIL to a.
waken the public sympathy! How many
are there that never tell their gr'efs--how
many who spread fair and smiling exterl-
or over an aching heart
Alas 1t is but too easy to make out a
strorg statement; and yet the very strength
of the statement, the strong feeling at least,
with which it is made, dlsproves the cynl-
cal argument. The truthis, and it is obvi-
Gus, that misery makes greater impress
sion upon Us than happiness. Wig Be
cause misery is not the habit of our minds.
1t is strange and unwonted guest, and we
are more conscious Of its presence. Hap.
to speak now any very high
quality, or entirely satisfying state Of mind,
but only Of general easiness, cheerfulness
and comiort-happiness, | say, dwells
with US and we forget it; 1t does not ex.
cite us, it does not disturb the order and
course Of orr thoughts. All our impress
s,ons about affection, on the other hand,
show thatrit'is more rare and at the same
time more regarded. Itcreates a sensation
and stir in the world, When death enters
among us it spreads gloom through our
dwellings,; it clothes them with unwonted
and syrspathising grief, thus affections are
ike epochs in life. sVe remember them
IS we do the storm and earthquake, because
hey al out of the common course OF things.
They stand hike disastrous events'in table
If chronology, recorded because they are
extraordinary, and with whole periods OF
between. Thus do we mark out
md signalize the times of calamity-bus
,ow many happy days pass--unnoted Pc
,iods in the table of Efe's chronology-unre-
corded either in the book of fnemory or in
he scanty annals of our thanksgiving! How
nany happy months are swept beneath the
silent wing of time, and leave noname hor
ecord In our thoughts! How little are we
.bie, much as we may be disposed, 10 call
,p from the dim remembrances OF The past
he peaceful moments, the easy sensations,
he bright thoughts, the movements OF kind
md blessed affections, in which lite has
lowed on, bearing US almost unconsclously
lpon its bosom, because it has borne US
,almly and gently. Sweet moments OF
,uietness and affection glad hours OF JOY
md hope! days, yes many days. begun and
ended in health and happinessl times and
seasons of heavens gracious benefcence
stand before US yet again in the light OF
memory and command us TO be thankful
md to prize as we ought the GIFT of life.
contend against the cynical and the su-
,erstitious disparagement of life, not alone
IS wrong and as fatal indeed TO all religion;
,ut | contend against il as fatal to the highest
Of life. Isay, that life is not
,niy good, but that it was made to be glo.
.ious. Az, and it has been glorious in the
experience of millions. The glory Of all
human virtue arrays it. The glory Of sane
ity and benefcence and heroism is upon
t. The ,crown of a thousand martyrdoms
S upon its brow.
Through this visible and sometimes dark
sned life, it was intended that the bright
ness of the soul should shine, and that It
should shine through all it cares and labors.
Tho hum HAT Life which anu nne nf ns Loads