Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-15
Youth and Old Age.

4OULn ana UlQ age.
'"There is an old age of the heart which
is possessed by many who have no suspicion
that they have any thing old about them
and there Is youth which never grows
old, a love whois ever boy, Psyche who
is ever girl" Thus, and very truthfully
writes somebody, It would be meet re-
ward for life well spent, if, in old 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 it rare of attainment.
One IS the calm government of the passions;
ltheother IS spirit Of love and benevolence
e IS d life Of sel6shness which makes old
age unloveIy al shas is fierce, hard, /
unjust, imperious, envious and covetous
within US, is allowed unabate6 influence,
the fountain of warm emotion and generous
impulse, which make the faith, earnestness
and simplicity of charming youth, is soon
choked up by dry dust and sand. The
man who is passionate, suspicious, subtle
of gain, jealous or irritable, need not ex-
pect to drink of the fabled fountain after
which the Spaniards sought. The sunlight
OF contentment plays over It's waters, the
shadow of the olive tree of peace rises
around it, the birds of innocence drink at
Its brlm and warble in its branches above,
and the heaven of love bends over it. It
IS not for it that the mass of men are striv-
ing. They prefer to drink the salt waters
OF need, which fever and wither their pow
ers, and bring on premature decay.
Men have no time, nowadays to rest by
the fountain of youth. They hurry-hur-
ry-hurry by its cool and inviting, but too
humble valley, for the glittering mirage
which promises them splendid land In
the future, where they can quaff the wine
Of luxury and self-indulgence They waste
themorningof life that they may live to ex-
cess through its afternoon. They are for
tunate if they 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.
Woman are in 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 therose on her cheek
and the light of girlhood in her eye, yet
with duplicity or selfshness in her soul, is
a pitiable sight, for she is already old We
have seen them, with the skill and coolnes
of practised fnanciers, calculating upol
the chances for wealthy husbands, AM
going to the altar with bosoms of outwar
beauty, which should have been full of ter
der and glowing feeling, filled with thought
fFfE tRs i6EFds e Which, they psdRsdf ss
own, because they brought them gifts 9
furniture, jewels and siken trappings-
These are the tragedies of life. Not tina
the actors themselves so regarded them
but the angels, leaning from heaven t
smile upon the earthly nuptials of the youn
and fair, drew hack in grief and alarm.
"And the angels, all palIid and wan,
Uprising unveiliRg, affirm"
that there is no more melancholy dram
ever played, than when youth and beaut
barter its gifts for gold
A canker which preys rapidly, an
brings on old age of the heart, is envy
disease to which the feminine nature
!. somewhat prone-envy of the rank, tt
loveliness, the portion, the grace, or tt
sunny temper of others, and vain repinir
because all is not theirs of luxury tn
might be.
: The truly womanly character has t.
much sweetness, generosity and nobili
: lever to fall victim to this disease. SUI
: a character stands in small need eff plea
ures which others covet, for in its ov
: cheerfulness, its love of doing kind deco
and speaking pleasant words, It's innoce
> delight in the good and beautiful, its
: terest in the happiness of those by who
it is surrounded, it finds that exercise
: its spiritual qualities which keeps it fro
: ennui or discomfort.
= Another thing which endangers you
k of heart is an excess of pride and self-lo
e This kind of haughtiness is like frost tt
d comes in June, and kills the delicate bloc
e and withers the precious perfumes of su
i mer A garden blackened by achilIy blie
$ is not more dreary than a breast in viii
+ the coldnesss of pride forever dwells
l, Thus there may be real old age, Of spil
IS while the years are few that mark tn
z outward signs upon its temple.
u !, Not less may there be real youth WI
j age has marked that temple with the sea
d of decay That immortal principle Of 10
be which keeps the heart open to receive
h, pressions of joy and sympathy VIII
of prompts it to consideration of the welt
8; ofothers; makes it as susceptible to deli
Is e, from flower, and bird end artless child
N N sixty as sixteen which uplifts it in a
he rations after the future and diviner life
ok this principle it is which is the water of
IN true Fountain of Youth. Cosnopoh
er, Art Journal
al
er- c,.,o,,, W. IN,
,ut SciouS dnu lHianous use vi s6rycHuln'