Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1856-09-30
Misttaanc1ous..
Youth and Old Age.

There is an Did age of. the heart
which is possessed by many who have
no suspicion that they have anything
Obi about them; and there is ayouth
which never grows old, a love who
is ever a boy, Psyche who is ever
a girl" Thus, and very truthfully,
writes somebody, Itwould bea meet
reward for a life well spent, if, in OH
age, one could feel that the springs
of youth were still fresh and pure
within his heart. Two things are
necessary to this youth of heart, which
make it7rare attainment. One is the
calm government of the passions; the
other is a spirit of love and benevo-
lence. 1t is a life of seltishness which
makes old age unlovely. II all that
is fierce, hard, unjust. imperious, Ell
vious and coyetous within us, is al
lowed undated influence, the foun-
tain of warm emotion and generous
impulse, which make the faith. earn
estness and simplicity of charming
youth, is soon choked up by dry dust
and sand, The man who is passion
ate, suspicious, subtle, greedy Of gain,
Jealous or irritable, need not expect
to drink OF the tabled fountain after
which the Spaniards sought. The
sunlight of contentluent plays over
its waters, the shadow of the olive
tree of peace rises aroundit, the birds
of innocence drink ut its brim and
MARBLE in the branches above, and
the heaven of love bends over it,
It is not for it that the mass OF men
are striving. They prefer to drink
the salt waters of greed, which fever
and wither their powers, and bring
on premature decay. Msn have mo
time, nowadays, to rest by the foun-
tain Of youth. They hurry--hurry
hurry by its cool and inviting, but
too humble valley, for the glittering
mirage which promises them q splen7
lid land in the future, where they
can quaf' the wine of luxury AMI
self-inlulgence. They waste the
morning life that they may live to
excess through its afternoon. They
are fortunate ifthey do not find their
powers to enjoy selfish pleasures
greatly exhausted before they end
their race; if, indeed, the mirage
does not delude them entirely.
Women are in a manner protected
from, the excitements and inducements
Of this thirst for gain, and when they
have cold and withered hearts, it is
sad indeed. A beautiful female, with
the rose on her cheek, and the light
Of girlhood in her eye, yet with du.
plfcity or selfshness in her soul, is a
pitiable sight, for she is already old.
We have seen them, with the skill
and coolness of practiced financiers,
calculating upon the chances Tor
wealthy husbands, and going TO the
altariwith bosons of outward beauty,
which should have been full Of ten
der and glowing feelings, filled with
thoughts of worldly triumph--endur-
ing the presence OF the lords to which
they pledged their own, because they
brought them gifts Of furniture, jew
els, and silken trappings. These are
the tragedies OF life. Not that the
actors themselves SO regarded them;
but the angels, leaning from heaven
to smils upon the earthly nuptials q
the young and fair, drew back in
grief and alarm.
"And the angels. al pallid and wan,
Uprising. unvailing. afirm. "
that there is no more melancholy
drama ever played. than when youth
and beauty barter its giIfs for gold.
A canker which preys rapi5ly y, and
brings on oldaee Of the heart ! envy