Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-30
For the Courier.
A Wandering Mind.

person that possesses wandering
mind is wretched; and unless he cult.
Yates that mind, his wanderings will
bring him to sOd,st and s:arya.ion; des-
'itule of friends, home. and everything
which he would have, if he were steady
and industrious. How many have been
ruined forever by straying away from
their native homes, expecting to enjoy
themselves wherever they went-.to
"reap the harvests of llfe." and 10 be
abundan'ly supplied with everything
which earth can produce to render
man happy. But, alas! their glorious
anticipa.ions are blasied!-their lives
are wrecks-lhey have traversed tho
globe until they have become go fond of
wandering about. that il is impossible for
them to settle down and stay any given
length of time in one place, but mus,
keep moving-every day bringing them
one step nearer the grave, until life.
time is spent. @ a-
The most Of young people. (who bs.
come at certain age dissa,isf fied,) when
they leave the home of their boy hood,
and wander amid the scenes of nature
and science, are apt TO be led astray, and
get to drinking and card.ilaying. and.
next, perhaps, be found lying in the gut.
ter, ifeless and ragged, dreaming the
frighlful dreams Of the drunkard; while
every passer-by, whose eye meets his
awful position. spurns him with coa.
tempt. JUS. think how horrible he must
feel; and even if he RECEIVERS from under
the influence of ."ardent spiri,s," he is
low and degraded in the eyes o. all res
pectable persons. He sees it and knows
it, and says this is no place for me.
He returns home, thinking to settle
doVn amidst the lovely scenes which
were once so dear 10 him. He sees a
change-everything is overcast with
gloom-,he smiling face which once he
saw, he sees no more-he becomes dis.
satisfied. and while he tolls and sweats
where he once sported, his mind is wan
dering in the '.far west"-frst ascending
the high peaks of the snow.clad noun.
tains, gazing around upon the beautiful
scene of ".he California diggings," per.
haps as far as the eye could roach, then
descending into the valley amid the noisy
woodsmen, there to join in the spor,ings
with the hunter. Tired oil all this, his
mind returns home unsa.isfed; i, finds
him in the field with sorrow depicted on
his countenance; while the sweat, min
gled with tears, is fast rinkling down Q
his cheeks. - IS
Night comes on. and he discouraginp.
ly returns to rest. Morning dawns. and
he is again in the field-his mind must
wander,-away it gIides upon thssocean
to meet the sailor boy, anc partaksEaw
him in the sweet and lovely spovt,n9s Of
the "Migh.y Deep!" Methinks l see
them standing upon the deck, gazing
homeward, and while the tears are flow-
ing in torrents down their pallid cheeks.
the sweet strains of the "Sailor's Glee''
are swelling and diminishing, most har-
moniously. reverbera,ing through the
air over the still waters until The by
ISLANDERS are swallowed up i amaze.
Sol ilI ~, il - insiruc.ing Is nav
el. "a also, that Z person can pfoeuse
al enjoy good health BY travelline -.
~ ihis Iadmit; but let q person wan.
bout until he has for protection. NJ
"a On ono side. and no funds on
tho Slhsr. and still possess the same
wandeniag mind. there comes sorrow,
grief. pain, and at last cores The strong
arm Of DEATH. and sweeps from earth
n nnrAnl "a mA into ;s,mortal;.u