The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-12
:B1DDEFoRD, MAINE, FRIDAY sERTEABER 10, 1856 ,

"IAcK OF Om." WANT OF Deserved
MORAL STRENGTH. have seen the young
man, who had stored himself with the intel.
lectual qualifications necessary for a rcputa-
BILE life. With good intentions, generous
impulses, honorable sentiments, with intel
ligence, and agreeable manners and an &c
tive spirit, he thought himself prepared for
all that lay before him, equipped for a cred.
table, successful, self:governing career, and
for as much virtue as would be requisite for
safety and good reputc in the world. SO he
stepped forth with confidence and alacrity
upon the theatre Of life. BY and by, Of
course, there came stress upon his princi-
pies, o draft upon his moral resources, that
he had not anticipated. Dangerous asso-
ciates drew their willy and Invisible knots
around him. Pleasure piled him first gent.
ly and then stormily with its enchantments.
New influences drew him by degrees from
his industry, his fidelity, his probity. Con-
fidencc slipped mysteriously away from him.
Eil predictions were whispered Of him by
the sagacious. The aims of life became
gradually lowered in him, and the fame of
good aspirations burned lower and lower.
A reckless aspect stealthily came over him,
that indescribable but unmistakable look.
He fell away from hls good endcavors, and
his lamp went out, in prodigal and worth
less life, in the slough Of Incidence and sem
suality and moral enervation. There was a
fatal deficiency at the outset, and 1t was sure
to 20 out. ... -
have seen the maiden who rcsemblcd her
foolish prototypes in the parable. She en-
tered upon life gaily. Her confidence was
in her beauty, her taste, ,heraccomplishments,
her intellectual quickncss, her social at
tractiycncss, her social position and conncx-
ions, and in such store of romantic senti-
ments and fine toned scnsibilitics as might
easily pass, for time, for religious afinities
and semi-moral enthusiasm. BY and by
the real cares and duties of life came. The
illusions Of youth passed away as they mu t.
Accomplishments lost their charm and beau
ty its lustre. The realities Of life grew
commonplace, as they always do. Life is
not what it seemed in her young DREAM
Romance flies from the domestic learth.-
Suffering and sorrow came, and the stern
trial Of her strength and patience. Emo
ton, sweet before, grows acrid now. Sen.
timcnt turns into frctfulness, and enthusi-
asm to discomfort and disappointment
Duty is burdensomc, and home is inslpid +,
and its ties bondage, and society a mock
cry. All this bitter falling off is cloakcd to
to the common eye under the show Of good
appearance but the feeling Of it is tho more
intense for that. Her life is q failure-her
lamp is gone out and well it might 60 out
well it might-eyory page of Scripture
and every lesson OF human experience pre-
dicted that it would.
have seen man who at the ortsct de-
signed to be only prudent, Industrious, and
entcrprising, turn at length into sordid
miscr, his soul smothercd under his gains,
his heart eaten up by tho cankcrous touch
of his own gold, and the whole man, body
and soul, bound hand and foot, a helpless
slave to the goods Of this world; no, not its
goods, but the mocking shadow Of its goods.
His lamp has gone out; and how could it
but 90 out with such shallow outfit as he
started with?
have seen tho man who had too much
conscience to set out with the purpose to de.
ccivc and swindlc; he meant only to be
shrcwder, moro vigilant than Others. But
in the drive of business, and amid growing
ercitcmcnts and larger bats, honesty faltcr-
cd, and conscience grew accommodating,
and opportunity more inviting. Integrity
slipped away little by little, he knows not
when or how, and now his whole heart is
false, his whole character unstrung and de-
moralizcd. His lamp has gone out, and no
wonder; as we'll might pasteboard ship
breast the s,rsins waves Of the sea.
So all around us, in every sphere Of life,
lamp after lamp goes out in moral stencil
and darkness. And why? or necessity
and ofcourse, for lack of oil, upon the same
principle that any human purposes fail, that
depend on forethough, and accumulated re-
sources and reserved power, as character
does, more essentially, moro universally,
than anything else.
, And now ono inquiry moro and / have
done. Whence shall We derive those need
full resources and that reserved strength,
which arc sure to be wanted? answer,
from among the moral elements of the soul
aud the spiritual influences Of religion, in
early and vigorous self culture, and that up
lifting, sanctifying spirit that comes from
God through Christ.-Rer. DR.. Putnam.