Smyrna times., 1855-06-06
Original Artitlc,
Written for the Smyrna Times.
A R E v E RTE.
BY WILLIE ASHTON.

THERE are many maladies of the soul which
may be cured by courage, decision and pru-
dence there are others which defy all human
efforts, and accompany us to the grave. Yet
this should not make us ungratetnl to God for
Ills NEST beautiful git-LIFE. If we are un-
able to eradicate our sorrow, there are still
means of mitigating its pain---means which
place US in condition to enjoy the numerous
delights of earth in the same degree as those
whom nature has supplied abundanty with her
best gifts. In ancient times, it was the fashion
for men to become hermits, and to flee from
mankind, to prepare for Heaven; but, in Our
tlmeS people appear to know no other way to
happiness but through social life And, behold
how many there are, vino are entirely unadap-
ted to this Aud yet they set such narrow
limits to mortal action! Here, Oh this earth.
are many occupations and unnumberrd ways of
employment, TO turn away the cares of every
individual. There even lies in the starry hea-
renS above US, in the mmeasurable prospect
i which lis immortality lends to us, certain
| something before which our cares and anxeties
disappear--lhere even is a pride in its majestic
grandeur, a daily joy to all who may up to its
beauty gaze and, IN the light and immenstv
of its eXpanse, the whole human family NAV
have companions soluce
To live with nature in her simple habil-
mentS, is restorant TO the most obddrate and
isolated heart! If we cannot live in the society
II Is Il glorious thing TO think with, and have
intercourse with the first spirits of earth to be
able to accompany them through their wander
lngs IN life and OH their way to heaven Ii is
beautiful TO illuminate the night of earth by
their beams, kinded in their own peculiar light,
and to be able to contemplate the world and its
hesettlng iniquIties frOm higher station =
That for which men seek most in possessions. is
most Illusive in its character II, like WOO
ing phantom, evades at each step the eager
grasp of the enchanted pursuer. When mans
way in life is palmed with everything that can
seeningl Y delight the heart, he frequently be-
comes the object of the greatest care and ankle
ty; the present beguiles him of the power to
blinded by his own splendor, is hurried on down
TO the grave amid the most wOeful gloom. Il
is the lot of man to endure sOrrOw--it is bv this
means he is enabled to estimate favor and hap
pness. Go to the great metropolis, guze upon
the scenes of activity and confusion that there
present themselves Look into the hearts of
those who WELD the mace of wealth and afflu.
ence What do we behold! A vast and ex.
tended catalogue of trials, struggles and per-
verted capabilities, imaging not enc principle
which they originally were formed to possess.
To them the beauties of the rising sun or the
nOOntide beam present no cheering reflection
To them the hum of busy voices in the crowd
ed street affords no anxious curosity-the cries
of want and oppression find no echoing response
in the hearts of these selfinterested beings =
But, turn with US to the sorrowing and the un.
fortunate; how different the scene that meets
the eye! Hearts chastened by want and affiic.
ton, find in every throb thousand sympathies
for those who, like unto themselves, groan under
the cruel hand of ruthless fate To these same
beings we turn for solace in the event of the
most hopeless sorrow-their hearts can grasp
the theme of woe with peculiar zeal, and
teach humanity how the ravages Of care may
be ameliorated and forgotten. Among this por-
tion of our world we behold where virtue
dwells-here we see in legible characters how
the seekers of happiness in wealth and honor
may disappoint themselves-here we may be
persuaded that, where the most gaudy glare
flashes upon the eye, the greater care is requi-
site to look behind the screne---to search out
the dirty ropes that guide the imposing struc-
ture, and the fetid candles which illuminate the
dazzling show, for there is forever at least a
human probability that all is not sound within.
Mulberry Grore.