Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-12-01

ueCtsUus anu COiiCituucS upon tue uestiuie'
Of his family, here and hereafter. Hi.
eye could not now see for them; but ht
had heart to invoke the watchfulness O.
an eye that neither slumbers nor sleeps
that neither grows dim with age nor mfr
nifty. His palsied hand could guide them
no longer, but patriarchal counsel wa.
freely given, aud enforced by the tremen.
dous realities of future existence. The
thread to be followed through the laby
rinth Of life, it was taught, had its fasten.
ings in eternity; time and all sublunary
things should be viewed in the light Of
eternity. But, although the mental vision
was acute and wisely circumspect, the dark
curtain still hung over the organs of sight,
and seemed to rise no more.
And what if it should be otherwise! that
hope Of sight should take the place Of res
ignation to blindness! and, more than this,
that hope should be turned into fraition ?
that, after the darkness of eight years, he
should be presented with broad dayligh:
view Of every thing around him? And
this, assure you, was almost fact for,
after an operation for cataract, which, in
the progress Of years, had rendered light
sensible, and then objects family visible,
strong and we'll constructed convex lens,
procured by the kindness of a distant
friend, enabled him to see with considera
bic distinctness. At this juncture, I hap
pered to be at his residence-called by
himself, long before, Hopewell," and
now fulfilling, in happy reality, the import
Of soft and cheerful name. The scene,
without dispute, was the most moving that
l ever witnessed. The father could again
see his children, who riveted his attention
and absorbed his soul. Among these,
emotions of intense interest and varied
suggestions we're visible in the eye, the
countenance, and the hurried movements.
The bursts of laughter-the running to
and fro-the clapping Of hands-the SEN
ding for absent friends-and then the ST.
lent tear bedewing the cheek in touching
interlude-the eager gaze Of old servants,
and the unmeaning wonder Of young ones
in short, the happy confusion from the
agitation Of joy-all taken together, was
a scene better adapted to the pencil than
the pen, and which masters hand might
have been proud to sketch. How 1 regret
ted that the mantle of some Raphael or
Michael Angelo bad not fallen upon me !.
then had my fame and my feelings each
been identified with the scene, and others
should have been permitted to view upon
canvas what must fail to describe upon
paper
The paroxysm produced by the arrival
Of the glasses having passed away, and a
partial experiment having satisfied all Of
their adaptation to the diseased eye, behold
the patriarch seated in his large armchair,
with his children around him, scanning
with afectionate curiosity the bashful
group. There was visible shyness among
the lesser members Of the family commu-
nifty, while undergoing this fatherly ssru-
tiny, not unlike that produced by long
absence. The fondness Of father in con-
templating those most dear to him, was
never more nationally exompli6ed, or cx-
quisitely enjoyed, than on this occasion.
And now, the venerable man, arising
from bis seat and grasping long staff
which lay convenient to him. had proceed
ed but short distance, when the staff itself
seemed powerfully, but momentarily, to
engage his attention it had been the COM
panion of his days, the pioneer Of his do
mestic travels, and the supporter Of weak
and tottering frame.
He next proceeded to the front door, to
take view of the mountains the beauti-
full southwest range stretching out in love-
ly prospect, at the distance Of about three
miles. All followed, myself among the
rest and the mountain scene, though
viewed thousand times before, was now
gased upon with deeper interest, and pre-
,ensed greater variety Of beauties than
ever. Indeed, this mountain scenery eve:
after continued to delight my unsatisfed
vision whether my attention had not be-
fore this been carefully drawn to lis beau
ties, or that the suggestive faculty, linking
the prospect with the sympathetic pleas
ures previously enjoyed, had thrown around
me q pleasing delusion, l am unable to
decide, Delusion apart, however, this
sunry base of the southwest mountains is
a delightful region, distinguished not only
by the natural advantages Of fertile soil,
salubrious climate, and beautiful scenery,
but by race noted for the social virtues
and for higher order Of intellect.
But to return to the individual whom l
had left exercising newborn vision upon
the external world. The bookcase inter-
views had looked for with solicitude, and
presently had the pleasure of witnessing.
Watts, and Doddridge, and Locke, and