The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-06-19
A DISCONTINUED LIFE,
sFor human bodies are sic fools,
with all their colleges and schools,
That when no real Ills nrrnler Tam
They make enou' themselves TO yex them ,

l
uFor human bodies are sic fools,
with all their colleges and schools;
| That when no real ills perplex them,
| They make enou' themselves to yex themn
A great portion Of the ills of life are fcti.
tious. Indeed, it seems to be one of the
miseries Of life that we should be always an
ticipating ills. Not content with the evils of
to-day, we make ourselves wretched, thinking
what will befal us tomorrow.
Go where you will, you still find il true
that men will torment themselves with imari.
nary evils Search the lowly cot, which poets
have pictured the abode of peace aad content
ment, where they imagine that ambition, lust,
and power never enter; or visit the palace in
which wealth offers the tapesrled carpet to
sink down in, the quiet attendance, the sculp-
tured marble, and the beautiful picture, you
will find that The cav, jealousy, and debased
nature Of the poor, aud the continual anxiety,
fears, and detestabe ambition of the rich. will
more than overbalance the imagined quiet of
the one, and the dazzling pomp and spendor
of the other.
Go to the abode of him who apparently has
nothing to perpiex him, who, like another
Cowper, lives secluded, surrounded by friends,
blest with competence, possessing some
share of literary fame, where peace free from
strife and cOntentment unmixed with envy
would, if anywhere, forever reigr. The dis
eased nerves fill up the cavity which real
misfortune has not been able to enter. The
lowering cloud, the impending storm, the
roaring wind fill him with as deep melan
chov as the loss of greatest earthly good
How often are people made miserable by an.
ticipating some impending ev! 1t is about
TO thunder, or we shall be sick, or we are
going to fail, destroy the present sunshine
and drive away peace. Ones children will
turn out vagabonds, and their innocent gayety
is n cause of sorrow, their fun and music is
harsh discord, their cheerful hopes gloomy
forebodings. The moe-hill becomes n noun.
tain; the defects Of character in the boy hide
his good qualities; his merits are lost sight Of,
and he who was sent to the family as beam
of light becomes blazing torch.
So there are those who have every app|i-
ance for content who imagine themselves
neglected. Mrs. B. never calls here; MIR. Q.
did not notice me in the street; Lucy has en-
tirely forgotten that such n being as ], AIN
among the living. Sitting down and recount
ing the sights, misconstruing the thoughtless
expressions, one soon has enough to make the
present hour miserable. What is it that ones
family is all that could be wished, if no res
gard is paid to me by others, if am cipher
away from home and my neighbors will not
care for me! Oh, how wretched n life to be
thus without sympathy! "Wel!, maam we'll
get drum and fife and call your acquant-
ances together, and give you a surprise par
ty." Will this cure =! No, tie house was not
fit to be seen, Mr.. C.. looked so grum, and
Mrs. p. so sarcastic, and erthng so unexs
pected and jumbled, that the surprise gave
more modification than the first discomfort,
whose source after all is jealousy.
View the youth who expects that the def
ciences of to-day will be supplied tomorrow,
into whose breast lurking care has never en-
tered, with all the bossms of spring around
him. Why is he unhappy! All, he is in
subjection-he can not do what he wishes
This restraint poisons all enjoymehts. Talk
not to him of health, gayety, and mlrth.-
Freedom he Graves. Liberty to be soldier,
sailor, anything that will release him from
the thradom of parental restraint. The fu.
ture to his eye appears ms bright MS the mid
day sun, withoat cloud upon the horizon,
because that future contains the age OF twen-
ty.one, when he shall be his own master.
Age, too, that quiet evening, is filled with
ghosts and gobins of departed joys, dissev-
cred ties, regretted opportunities. The forms
that have gene fit by, the shadows of once
seen pleasures strike upon memorys retlna'
and the grim spirits of the past rise up IN the
twilight to sadden and aflict the present
hour. II there are no cares, there are no
friends, no strength. The stately forest has
gone, decayed stump alone is left, stripped
of its branches and rotting above ground.
Such to some minds is the picture OF life
the past and future presenting an unfair
nshed aspect, while the present seems cloth
ed in clouds and darkness. Thus we are ever
pressing onward, learning from experience and
receiving lessons from daily occurrences.
Life doubtless has evils. But how many
are purely imaginary How many are the
fruits of our own distempered appe,ites and
lustsl Let one walk out on bright spring
morning, the air filled with fragrance, the eye
enchanted with beauty, the ear saluled with
the Cheerful! songs Of the birds, and If he can
murmur aud repine, why, then, shut him up,
and, like the father of Marshalsea, let him be
wrolchea because the jaieF, Chiyery, treats
him cold
Lille Bov,-Please, Mr. Snowman, vich
is the monkey and veh is the helephana
Shoteman-Vicheve you pleases, my lit
tie man; you pays your money, and you takes
your choice.