Smyrna times., 1856-06-25
Selett NlisttIIanp.
M UT ATOM;
Noted at Life's Half-wa House.

Who, on retrospecting the arid wastes over
which they have come, would wish to renew
again the journey of life Youth, happy in its
ignorance. exulting in its hope, looks out but
upon the cloudless future, and sees only the
pretty flowers of the landscape whereon it so
soon will tread. Age, uneasy in its dilapida,ed
dwelling, turns back on the path of its pilgrim
age and from the acme of clambered attitude,
surveys again the misspent hours of its proba-
ton; aud shudders to think the actions OF three
score years have been recorded by the sleepless
scriptor, and must vibrate through the mea-
sured roll of time.
But stop at the halfway house and compare
notes with travellers across this plain of life
The botanist is here, troubled with poison
Gus ulcers, received from the very petals of
t'Ose plants he plucked for purposes of detailed
research. The naturalist is dangerously i'll
ON the bite OF reptile which he had aptur-
ed. The human benefactor is at the point Of
death. A thousand leagues back he overlook
fellow, faint and friendless by the way he
halted, took him up, administered cordials and
Testoratives which relieved the hopeless stran-
ger, invited him to join his party and 60 with
him on the route. But few months later the
thankless wretch offered indgnity to his pre-
servers household, from which an alteration
took place, and the humane father has been
mOrtally wounded. II took place in sight of
here: and the cOmfortless family have no friends
to console them, or give them any assistance,
as the fiend who committed the treacherous
deed, proved by fraudulent indentures the sole
property Of his beRefsctor was his; on which
he held mortgage for legal considerations.
But few hours ago a lady alighted from her
gilded vehicle attired in the weeds of woe
And as she wends along the marble paved hall
way the mournful rustic of the black raiment
produces a sensation almost like the music
Of the harsh winds that sigh through the tall,
acre, saw-grass. "Who is she Z" asks every
spectator. A widow of great fortune whose
husband died Of an epidemic which was raging
on the desert as they crossed. All, poor dis
consulate woman Will ever thy beautiful vet
despOnding features be lit again by the rain.
bows brilliant light Who ims sgines that she
hut few short furlongs on will meet some
gallant cavalier, whose sympathy will solace,
whose protection win and WOO her hearti
The foul pretender, the feigned lover, invited
our party to his room to test the quality of his
choice wines. Some drank, some would be
excused. The wine-soaked brain makes the
tongue run glibly reason and the god of the
cup are not recognised companions. The latter
speaks and the former is mute, and listless.-
And now the pretender must injudiciously re-
counts the story Of his scenes upon this dusty
road
One-third Of the way back from this fell in
company with q family to whom am now re-
lated by ties that cannot be unraveled. first
iaet them. under most propitious auspices
Twas early in the day, the fall round face Of the
snn was bat risen from the drapery of his orient
Couch and the glmnler of his sceptre stretched
over the peak which was ascending, and gave
The soft down to the vale bolow. Upona shelving
oi The preciptoiis spur and but a short distance
irom tbs road tent was pitched on sight of
which refined my horse and for moment stu
aied whether or no il would be prudent to in
uade so early upon an unknown party. But on
EssolEne the subject in my mind, resolved TO
break the silence Of the morning TO its occu-
pants, and so give my horse the rein and spur
The striking OF his steel hoof on the rocks
lent It's echo TO the mornings stiffness and by
ms time had reached the place Of encamP-