Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-03-24
Written for the Sentinel.
PASSION.


In a word, Passion is the power that rules us
the vice that embitters-the robber that steals us
of our peace-the hidden rock upon which love,
and happiness, and prosperity are wrecked--grey
hairs and deep wrinkles are its accomplishments
in youth-sorrow, disease and imbecility, its at
tendants in age-intemperance the food upon
which it exists. Since the fall of man it has been
the curse of our race. Beware of It! The pure
est heart, the noblest soul, the brightest of reputa-
tons, with the rapidity of the lightning's fash,
have succumbed to its power and sunk before its
approach and such-the good and the %vir,uous,
the patterns of integrity among the lowly and the
the lofty, are the bright objects of its attack. The
youth merging into manhood, and just escaped
and religion-the fair creature, with all the ac-
complishments of art 10 decorate her native beau
ty, and an angelic heart tutored in all the winning
graces which make loneliness still more lovely
the mother, whose %quietness of disposition, whose
equitable temper, and placid and disciplined mind,
has reared up a family partaking of her virtues
the husband, who, through a long number of years,
has been known and honored for the correctness
of his principles, the integrity of his purposes, his
almost silence in the pursuit of his avocations,
the cordiality and warmth of his intercourse, his
studied care not to give offence, his love and re-
verence for his consort and the other jewels of his
Observation-Disclosures many other grades in life of
either sex, and of pursuits %eliciting respect and
admiration, are the shining marks, at which Pas
sion levels lis poisoned barb. and sinks them, hui
inflated, d~isgraced and doomed, by the law, and
in the estimation of their fellow beings!
All, Passion (! ifprayers could suffice, how many
wretched, weakened. pale and emaciated beings.
would at this moment rise from their s~uppliant
knees before one only controlling Divinity, and
commence anew the struggle for a good name and
an houored and happy home! But, alas, prayers
throw not off the shackles and the shame which
thou, ~despoiler and murderer, rivet and consume
the once noble limbs and proud and honest heart,
which felt thy power in a sad and thoughtless
moment! Have. O, youth, in thy code of princi-
pies, but one guide, but one text, but one caption
thy study by day. thy dream at night, thy CON-
panion at all hours, in every cline, and in all con-
ditions of life.-a temperament slow and studied
in its anger, and a tongue dumb of speech when
thy blood rises up with boiling rage in thy tenn
pies. Heed not the pronptinss OF thy willing
heart which gross provocaticn goads ON to its
ruin. A moment to reflection, and the tempter is
vanquished-thy soul is saved-the peaceful cur
rent Of thy life flows meandering on through
shade and sunshine. kissed By sweet aud balmy !
airs, and thy walk leads on into the safe and
even path which leads TO honor, to happiness, and
to immortality!
order, the disorgauizer, the wicked t~attler, the
bully and. the ~braggart, the ,rampler upon virtue,
the destroyer of morals. are seldom PASSIONS vic. |
tims-vice and Drawing. the promptings of an
evil heart, the feast of a ~depraved mind, the de- !
lights Of a corrupt intellect. the appetite of a be. |
sotted brain, and the instincts of a ruthless heart,
have too much Of method and discipline in their
contentious, seldom or ever to feel the keen seve-
rity of this worst feature of the human mind and
thus a loathsome character, from the nature of its
pursuits, is SO schooled as to save itself from the
disgrace, the punishment and the remorse. which
the good, the true and the great suffer. In all
transactions-in every feature of social life-in
every public or private position-in the encounter
of principles, Of words, of arms, ~coolsess and stoi-
eism, backed by honest motives, a clear conscience
and a truthful heart, are the safe and certain
guardians against the serpent Passion. which like
the viper, its smile, blackens every fair spot the
the moment its poisonous fangs touch the rich and
current which gives breath and p~ulsation
to our teing. Escape Passion-escape its raving
promptings and its deeds of desperation, and thou
art mightier than the proudest and the l~oftiest, q
conqueror among those Of filthy race, the wealthiest
among the possessors Of great principles-for thou
art then the mightiest and most honored of mas
ters-a master ofthyself! PrRrcrNA.