The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-11-30
Written for the Porti Gibson Reyeille.
OLD HEARTS.
BY YOUNG AMERICA.

There are such things as old hearts. Old,
not because Of time, nor Of the number Of
beats they have given in mans march to tho
grave but old because they have felt much
suffered much. The merry bound Of youth
may be lost in an old heart; the sparkling
fountains Of young and first love may be dried
up by the aridity Of cen a short summer /;
yet the old heart may have a well within, pure,
and calm, and deep. A well, guarded and
secured, lest the idler stir its waters. and turn
them to bitterness. for his own -vanity's sake.
What treasure is a heart-though it be ~
old heart-Glled with pure and calm affec-
tions How exhaustless How holy How
constant. The first flush Of love may weave
bis garlands, and hang them in profusion on
the pillars Of Life's temIle-he may streB
the way with flowers but the garlands parch,
and the flowers fade. Maturity will train
living vines, and deck the temple with unfa-
ding verdure-will give the flowers nourish-
ment in rich soil. and bring forth their con-
stantbuddng beauties by devoted culture.
There arc those who scorn the old heart.
and would throw it away as unworthy Of a
thought or a care. When is heart value
less When does it lose its affections -
When the human loses humanity when the
fire Of passion has died out in man when
the heart Is dust Should it be thrown away
because ono cannot receive its first impulses !.
because its first passionate boundings have
subsided because its tumultuous heaying
have become stilled? No. The old heart is
The one 6t for life's changes, and joys, and
sorrows. The old hearts hopes never rise 50
high that they will fall low: they are gently
warm, not consuming, quick, and leaving all
dark and cold The old heart has learn
ed to consult Reason, and Experience has
taught it that constant addition Of fuel is
necessary, when one would have constant
blaze. And who does not want constan
blazing to be in unison with his own? Who,
that has to travel through a world where
most is trial and trouble, does not wish to
have his fortunes and happiness in the keep
ing of heart that has lost the romance and
learned something of the rea. in life !? Who
could not be happy with an old hearts love,
when that love and that happiness would be
the happiness to such heart ! No no -
The possession Of an old heart-one that has
loyed--does not crafty mans vanity =
It does not lay an offering on the altar Of self
worship. It does not whisper to his heart
Thou art all in ALL.
Man is a selfish being. lie must have
his happiness ministered to, and himself alone
cared for, or be viii have nothing. a heart
that makes him happy, must fatter him by
its first devotion, and even ache to show him
its constancy. Such an one land many such
there are,) must have very little considera.
tion he must entertain low opinion Of nan.
kind.to suppose that in himself, and in no 9th.
er is combined all that heart can love. That he
alone. of all mankind, possess those qualities
that will captivate, and he alone can turn love
into ido!atry. Such man deserves not even
the feelings that are bestowed on quadrupeds
long after the heart refuses to seek congenial-
ity in its own kind.
An old heart should carry recommendation
in the very fact that it is old It has loved,
and of course can love. Vanity should even
be fattered in the consideration that as that
heart once warmed when it came in contact
with inferior charms, now it will be in confa,
CATION when it meets those so superior. The
old heart-but whore is the use Of saying
it ?-all the hearts, in this fast country, are
old hearts!