The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-16
From, RusalPs Magazine.
DEPARTURE OF YOUTH.

We lately heard this question discussed by
parties of various ages and experience
One assigned one period-another, another
twenty, twenty-five thirty. An differed,
and we think all were wrong. The truth,
of course, is, that it is impossible to fix
any precise limits to the period of youth !;
that it varies with character and circum.
stance; and that in many cases it melts
so imperceptiby into manhood, that no
survey, however thoughtful or minute, can
trace the dividing line. AS boyhood ends
with the first blush Of love, so at any
age, grief, misfortune, may close the gates
of youth upon us forever. In such in
stances tho transition is marked and sud-
den, like the fall Of trophic night. But
amid quiet scenes and happy fortunes, the
mind natures with the slow process of a
vegetable. Unreaccting persons let the
years so by like mile stones which they
arc too indolent to reckon. AS ship, un-
der the influence ofa gentle breeze, is lifted
along the sloping current of river to the
height of a thousand feet above the sea,
so, unconscious and observant, these people
glide softly from youth to manhood, from
manhood to old age Some startling
change in themselves perhaps the growth
of more than one lustrum, yet unnoted till
its completion-awakes them, like blow,
70 the consciousness Of approaching grey
hairs.
The life Of boyhood is not less busy and
stirring than that of manhood. The rival
ries Ill school and out Of 1.-THE ambition
and the struggle-the success and the dis
Fappolntments-the friendships, heartburn
ings, and cnmities-the boisterous sport,
and the bitter ridicule-call forth, in a
smaller degree only, the same passions
which tear the heart and stir the spirit on
the larger theatre of the world. And be-
tween these two statcs-like an Indian
summer with its atmosphere of dreams
comes the most delicious period of all
The fever of boyhood is over, the ripe pur-
poses of tho man yet undcyeloped. 1t is a
time of vague longings, indefinite wishes,
visions of poetry and love!
When these vague longings begin to
concentrate into sigle passion, we are ap-
preaching manhood. AS often, youth ends
with disappointment which, like the shock
Of cold water in tho morning, startlcs us
from our dreams, and compels us to think
of action.
The Romans continued to call man
"adoleseens' at forty. Such an epithet
applied at this day to one of thirty, would
suggest to us the garland on the ears of
Bottom. However, the custom speaks VOL
umes in favor Of the early Romans. In
the nineteenth century one might die an
old man at tbirty.fve.
1t is melancholy to see how rapidly we
contrive in America to get over the golden
period of youth. In the life of not few
Individuals, we believe there ie actually
no youth at all! What loss Whom
ever we look upon man Of tweniy, (he is
known at glanco) we arc reminded of
story which we have read somewhere, in
which, to punish some cold. hearted and prac-
tical plodder, a good spirit deprives him Of the
beautiful faculty of dreaming.
1t is impossible to be youthful always, it
is not impossible to carry many of our
youthful feelings into manhood, and even
into ago. We. ourselves have just stepped
into the responsibilities of maturity, but we
hope to see for long time yet,
| "a glory in the grass, splendor in the flower''
Life is worth something even when
youth is past; and none but persons of un-
imaginative temperaments will find it alto
gether insipid. Though it be desert, over
head are sky and stars!
In vague recollection Of the emotions
of childhood and youth, (and undoubtedly
of dreams also,) we find an explanation o
the feeling Of persistence. A morning o,
a sunset sky, a leaf, flower, soft touch
of the breeze, wake some old but long 81:
lent chord in our bosoms; and alas! years
of business or sorrow have put, in effect a,
least, go many centuries between ourselves
and childhood, we stand
"At such distance from onr youth in sin, !
that we refer their dimiy remembered emo.
tions to another and impossible life!
-----&s.sS-
Muggins has sharp porter. This chap
Eraturned from the pm Office the other day
with Muggin's papers, and informed him
that there wasa letter in the post-office
that lie couldn't get.
"couldn't getit! why couldn't you gel
it, you stupidan
i "Theres five cents to pay ON it,
4 "Why didn't you pay for it7" asked
Muggins,Fwith Indignation.
.aI hadn't xnts enough r' replied the
urehin grinning srclly.
: "You fool r said Mpggins sto,ming