Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-12-06
and fair correspondent.-ED.
ssDav pre.ses on die heels Of day-

and fair correspondent.-ED.
.Dsy presses ON the heels OF day,
And moons increase 10 their decay,
But ycu-with thoughtless pride eiste,
Unconscious OF impending fate,
Command the plar'd dome to rise
Where loi Thy grave forsotien iies"
How seldom from the hurry OF employ
ment, or even in the calmer diversions Of
study or speculation, do our thoughts turn
upon subjects Of serious nature, and how
rarely are they made the topics Of converse
ton unless it be to give occasion TO some
subtlety Of reasoning or elegance Of decla-
nation.
But short time since the tolling bell
called US TO pay the last tribute Of respect 20
the earthly remains of a loved teacher and
friend. To say farewell, that word which
must be and hath BEEN" to the form that
imprisoned one Of Earth's purest, brightest
spirits. Ii is ever sad 10 know that one we
loved has passed from Earth into that still
country from whence their living voice and
personal presence can no longer stimulate us
to better deeds. But Phenix like from our
grief springs Joy to know that their natural
eyes are closed to physical ills, annoyances
aud pains, and that their spiritual eyes are
opened TO world Of peace, JOY and leye.
The winds OF Autumn strew her grave
with the faded leaf-the flowers take root
over the folded hands that trained and cared
for them. Sunshine and shade alternate
their watch over her, but nDmindful she
sleeps on-a monument is raised, it Is 10 the
hearts Of her pupils and friends.
OH life, what q mysterious thingis life
Ii is but one scene of meetings and partinss,
of joys and griefs. But il is dear TO ALL
Childhood, Manhood, Old Age alike cling 20
the material form that encases the spiritual.
and ever from the heart arises the question,
What is life and how shall we fulfil our
destinies? The numerous miseries that sffiict
mankind have called forth ~ all ages, univer-
sal complaint The wisest Of all mankind
gave US as the result Of his experiments in
search OF happiness: "All is vanity" and the
patriarchs lamented that ''the days of their
pilgrimage were few and old" Afiiction Is
insepesable from our existence, and also in a
degree that seems but little regulated by our
own conduct But il our present state were
one constant succession Of delights-one uni.
form flow Of calmness and tranquility, We
should never think upon its end with pleas
ure-to us there would be no better land.
From the indiscriminate distribution @
misery and unhappiness, moralists haye al
J ways deduced their strongest proofs Of q fu-
ture state, arguing that in a future world /:
just retribution will take place. and man b.
made happy or unhappy according as IN
dues are good or bad. But does not the re
ward Of every action follow directly after th'
1 act is committed, and thus are we not eithe
elevated or degraded in the scale OF being
not outwardly, but inwardly in the estima-
ton Of ourselves?
OF life We know little, and Of what is be
vond we can oaly conjecture. The only hop
therefore, on which we can repose with com
, fort is that which commends us to the car
and guidance of Creator of unbounde
love, EMMA ELTON.
NEw YoRK, Nov. 1855.