Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-13
Gboitt 4itstatnrf.
A Legend Of Llfe and Lova.


consequences may be trouble and grief as we'll
satisfaction and pleasure. The man who lives
on from year to year, jealous Of ever placing
himself in a situation whore the chances can
possibly turn against him-ice, as it were
surrounding his heart, and his mind too
scrupuloasy weighing 10 balance the results
Of giving way 70 any Of those propensities
his Creator ha7xlRpted in his heart--may he
a Philosopher but can never be happy man.
Upon the banks uf pleasant river stood
cottage, the Tcsideucc IF an a0ricnt Inan
whose limbs we're feeble with theIweight Of
years and of former sorrow. In his abpeti
tes easily graiifed like thesimple race among
whom he lived, every want Of existence was
supplied by a few fertile acres. Those acres
were tiled and tended by two brothers, grand.
sons Of the old man, and &weers also in
the cottage The parents Of the boys Law
buried in u grave near by.
Nathan the elder, had hardly seen his
twentieth summer. lie was beautiful youth.
Glossy hair clustered upon his head and his
cheeks were very brown from sunshine and
open mir. Though the eyes of Nathan were
soft and liquid, like girls, and his cheeks
curled with voluptuous swell exercise
and labor had developed his limbs into
noble and manly proportions. The band
OF hunters, rs they met sometimes TO start
oil together after game upon the neighbor
Ing bills, could hardly show one among their
number who in comeliness, strength, or ac-
tivity might compete with the youthful Ma.
than.
Mark was but year younger than his
brother He, too, bad great beauty.
In course Of time the ancient sirkened. and
knew that he waste die. Before the approach
OF the fatal hour, he called before him the
two youths and addressed them thus
The world, my children, is full Of deceit.
Evil men swarm in every place and sorrow
and disappointment are the frnts Of inter
course with them. So wisdom is wary.
And as the things Of life are only shad-
ows, passing like the darkness of a cloud,
twine no bonds Of love about your hearts -
For love is the fcklest Of the things of life.
The object Of our affection dies, and we
thenceforth anguish in agony; or perhaps
the love we coyet dies, and that is more pain
fol yet.
Il is well to keep aloof from the follies
and impurities Of the earth Let there be
no links between you and Others. Let not
any being control you through your depen-
deuca upon him Tor a position of your hap
piness. This, my sons, | have learned by
bitter experience, is the teaching of truth
Within few days afterwards, the old
man was placed in the marble tomb of his
kindred, which was built on hill by the
shore.
Now the injunctions given to Nathan and
his brother-injunctions frequently impressed
upon them before by the same monitorial
voice-were pondered over by each youth in
his inmost heart. They had always habit
uaIly respected their grandsire; whatever
came from his mouth, therefore, seemed as
the words Of an oracle not to be gainsayed.
Soon the path Of Nathan chanced 10 be
sundered from that of Mark.
And the trees leaved out, and then in au-
tumn cast their foliage ;-and in due course
leayed out again, and again, and many times
again-and the brothers met not yet
Two score years and ten what change
works over the earth in such space as two
score years and ten
AS the sun, an hour ere his sitting, cast
long santing shadows to the estward, two
men, wiLhered, and with hair thin and snowy,
came YEARLY up from opposite directions,
and stood together at the tomb built on a
hill by the borders Of fair river Why do
they start, as each casts his eyes toward the
face Of the olherG Why do tears drop
down their cheeks, and their frames trem-
bIc even more than with the feebleuess of
agel They are the long separated breh-
rem, and they enfold themselves in one an
others arms
And yet, said Mark, after few mo.
ments, stepping back and gazing earnestly
upon his companions form aud features,
and yet it wonders me that thou art nv
brother. There should be bras and beau.
tiful youth, with black curls upon his head
and not those pale emblems of decay And
my brother should be straight and nimble
not bent and totteIng as thou.
The speaker cast a searching glance
glance Of discomfort.
And ], : rejoined Nathan, Il might re
quire from my brother, not such shrivelIeC
limbs as | see-and instead of that cracked
voice, the full swelling music Of morning
heart. But half century is fearful mel
ter OF comeness and Of strength; for hal
Aceniury it is, dear brother, since my han,
touched thine, or my gaze rested upon tn,
face
Mark sighed, and answered not.
Then, in little while, they made enoui
rles about what had befallen either during
tbs time past. Seated upon the marble, b,
which they had met Marx briefly told hi
story.
Il bethink me, brother, many wears hav
indeed passed over since the sorroWful da
when our grand,ire, diving. left US to seei
our fortunes amid wicked and seductive
world.
His last words, as thou doubtless dos
remember advised US against the snares ths
should beSet our subsequent journeyings.-
lie prOtrayed the dangers that lie in III
path Of love; he impressed upon our mind
the folly Of placing confidence in huma,
honor, and warned US to keep aloof from to-
close connexion with our kind. He the
died, but his instructions live, and have eve
been present IN my memory.
Dear Nathan, VIII, should conceal fror
you that ut that time loved. Nv simpl
soul, uugited with the wisdom OF our ags