Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-02-02

ESSAY ON REFLECTION.
BY ISAAC McMANUs.


Reflect the Past SEQ what fruitful iheme
For our regret or Joy; whatiessons ,sem
with sadd'ning weight, or, raise with euoyan'
pride,
AZ Love triumphed, or selnshnoss denied.
The former so admlred-the latter cursed;
Strange, II would socm, tho las. should be the
arsu
Why Heaven, ,propitions, did Il thus ordain,
That seinshpess should guide our beings aim,
Il not for Us 10 know; but this would seem,
Knowledge L. given 10 discern between
The good and evil;' and 10 which allied,
Conscience the subtle problem must decide.
Heav'n, suil moro 10 compensate tho selfish end,
See Love with conscious Kr owledge made "a
blend.
But these alone, unalded, useless fall,
Too slow 10 act, or fall 10 act al all.
While the Present, with its cold sweeping tide,
Moeks atour knowledge, conscience, love denod
Here selnshness steps In, expert In wiles,
To meet the present with It's erafty guiles;
And shapes our actions as the impulse moves
The varying currents, TO change our views.
But Heaven, 10 balance the impulsive train,
Has laid another field wherein 70 gain
The proper balance, which seems lost In this,
Where nobler parts correct what's found amlss.
'Tis Memory. by whose reflective power,
The Past Is broughtto view the present hour,
Where all our actions pass In brief review,
For praise or blame, as Judgment deems them due.
Here Conscience ehdes, there knowledge heaps
her store,
And Love regrets the hasty, thoughtless hour.
Thus, what's too slow 10 lead, too weak TO drive'
Touches each chord and keeps the fame alive,
which from our actions purges out the dross.
And, through repentance, saves what else were
loss.
Thus, Heaven has each Its proper sphere defined,
The baser first, and then the nobier kind.
To sum Il up, the difference lies between
Our grovelIng instinct and Reasons beam:
The former comes, impulsive, to cur call;
The latter strikes the scales-they instant fall;
Beauty stands revealed; hopes aspiring rise;
Point the astonished mortal to the skies.
Then why, since Heaven, by choicest gif.s bestow-
cd.
Teaches, through past experience, the narrow
road,
Expands the soul, each sensual thought rehnes-
Oh, why not give the scope which Heaven de
signs?
Then reflect the past-see what spectres rise,
or good resolves, in each breast smothered lies;
While wrongs innumerable throng the giddy
sight,
With envy, hate, revenge, and scomful spite;
All TO represent the hideons train
That rise unbIdden, but will not down again.
See Time, .nisspent, with haggard, peering eyes,
Comes looming up, to give some sage advice.
thronging, motley train Is brought to view,
A most exacting, chiding, boisterous crew.
See hopes delusive, all pursued in vain,
The promised grasped, it ends In pain.
Ambition, ayerice, promised ease and power,
The exploded bubble OF the passing hour.
Thus. each by each, have alike attested,
Some moment lost, some duty sad neglected.
partial view would seem that these condemn
The truth of Heavens image placed in men;
Not so-they teach how perfect Natures plan
or love supreme to God, and then 10 man.
But still the past does other scenes unfold,
Ere sinful follies had our acts controlled.
far back at the natal hour,
And reaching tll lost in manhood's power.
Here hope, and JOY, and grief, ali pure and meek,
With tears that would not stain an angels cheek;
The living emblem 70 mortals given
DR. perfect pnrity in Heavens Kingdom.
To these the mind looks back with longing cast
Is Life streacherous strands our bark is tossed
The sport OF elements that mock our pride,
preyto fears that heavenly hopes divide;
mpelled, impeded, BY our fortunes wild,
Who has not wished to be again a child