Smyrna times., 1855-07-11
BY A MEDICAL STUDENT.

Ar the close of day when all is still, in the
peaceful twilight hours, love TO sit me down
in some quiet nook, secluded from the busting
stir of busy men, or by the open window of my
study, with naught to disturb me there, and
listening to the soft music OF the gentle even
ing breeze as it sighs through the swaying
willow, or the farewell warble of the tiny song
ster as he seeks his nest for the night, to lose
myself, and all my thoughts, in dreams
1t is at such time that wild, though then
not wild but gentle, fancy takes the lead, and
on silent, swift aud steady wing carries my soul
away, away off into the land of dreams.
am sitting thus wrapt in reverie now, with
the eye of my dreaming soul gazing intently
into the distance whittier my fancy points,
And there she opes to my wondering eyes glo-
rious visions of the future. Then she paints in
vivid cOlors, glowing with such freshness,
beauty, and power, and magnlfcence, all the
wishes the ardent longings of a young, impul-
sve and ambitious heart, added by that brilliant
charm which the Imagination always throws
around the reality-jOyous castles, castles in
the air. She built up the towering temple OF
fame, reaching up high into the dark depths of
the clouds, yet shining forth with all the bright
ness and splendor of the midday sun; and
upon the very top, iii large, shining, gllttering,
blazing letters, is written my name, and the
deeds which | have done. And all the world
stands and gazes upon tha. tower, and upon
that name, and upon those recorded deeds; and
as it stands and gazes, it smiles and pours out
heaps of blessings upon that name, and thanks
God for the day that gave Inc BIRTH
And |, who hold that name which is there
employed, in honor of whom that vast pile i:
built, though conscious of heavenly race,
heavenly impulse, heavenly desire within, tt
do the world good, and to discharge the dutier
which is owed to my God; conscious of labor
ing with all my might for the advancement O
right and humanity; yet cannot realize why
for that, the admiration and praise Of the worlt
is bestowed upon me cannot realize why it i
why the world does look up to me as to tn,
worlds benefactor. And in modest, nature
given diffidence, shrink back and seek to hid
from their gaze.
Thus, thus does busy fancy hold up to m,
view the future-thus does she raise me u
from an obscure, unknown, neglected boy, t
the highest pinnacle of fame; not that fam
which the warrior wins by wading throug
seas of bloody gore, and climbing over heaps q
dead, but that only true and noble fame, whic
is ever given to him who tolls, and prays, an
fights for right, for Gods and for rights sake.
Vain and useless as these reveries are, Low
3 to indulge in them. Whe is there that doe
" not Who has not let fancy roam away an
% paint the future thus!
y The future dark and unknown! Not
single moment into the future can we look wit
oi certainty. A dark veil is hung before our eye
% through which glimmering ray can new
'e shine. Yet fancy tears away that veil al
al paints in false, but brightly-glowing coOrs Il
ie future. What man is there, that lived h
G. three-score years and ten, who looking back
L. his youthful day-dreams, has found them true
le Nay, the man is living not They may
y partly true, but not to their full extent.
n. Yet, still they are not without their use.-
9. They inspire my ambition to excell-they or