Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-03-11

sealed book. yet many "stray leaves"
will hutter from its folds, anu, in mys.
tic language. speak with the ''voice Of
tongues" So if "Stray Leaves from
Hearts History" awaken an answer
ing chord in any heart, the object will
have been reached; and we could only
request that, il the music is in foreign
tongue or the instrument is unknown,
the fierce critics eye may be withheld.
for we can not Justly condemn that of
which we know nothing. either by ex-
perience or conception.
Could we weave in fancy woof the
early thoughts and promptings Of our
heart, when lifc's rosy beams embel-
lished with rainbow dyes the horizon
of our existence, and gilded the swelt
ering clouds with golden tinges, then
could we but partially portray the
sweets Of childhood. Holy, happy
childhoodr" Well may age call thee
blessedl And yet there were childish
longings that later years can never
realize. In the purity of nature, un-
cramped, unwarped, holy thoughts had
birth. Often, as we knelt beside our
mothers knee, and held up our little
hands as guileless sacrifice and lisped
"Our Father" or listened to her sweet
toned breathings of earnest fondness
and love as she recounted the story of
Jesus's labors of love and self-denial,
has our young heart overilowcd with
emotions of pleasure; and then, as in
sadder tones, she pictured the Lamb
of God" suffering in the garden, bleed
ing upon the tree, and, as his dying
cry, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabathani," I"
rose up from the stiffness of the tomb,
our bosom heaved with sympathy and
sad thoughts crushed our JOY. And
how often, in later years, have these
sacred memories turned our heart from
the tempter's power and led us to seek
grace and strength from on high.
From nature what varied lessons Of
wisdom we have CLEANED. The busy
|, bee, as she flies from flower to flower,
has taught the ever-active hands that
labor was natural and pleasant; while
; the little ant, struggling under her
GRAIN of sand," impressed the need
| of patience and perseverance. Often
, have we bended over bank of violets,
twining the bright leaves with purple
and white blossoms into a wreath fol
: some fairied queen, while the infinite
beauties of the fragile flowers and theil
, mystic sweetness of form and color
have entranced our mind with the
: thoughts of the beautiful. Often, leav.
| ing the merry sports of companions
have we stood by the clear, rippline
stream and watched the tiny fishes a,
they danced among its waters, or tn,
, little wavelets as in playful dallianct
they sported with the sunlight or rust
G ling breeze, till, in dreamy silence
' our prattling tongue has ceased it
| noisy clatter, and our cver-restless
hands have unconsciously dropped tn,
willing flowers and folded their grasr
upon empty air. Often have we watch
1 ed the dazzling sunshine, as it played
in wild, fantastic forms on the greer
sward, now chasing fairies in reckless
glee, or quivering with gentle motion
as it reflected the leaves above or water
: beneath, till our eyes have wandered
to the region OF thought in the con
temptation of the beautiful and lovely
have seen only the image in the soul
Often, in the still night, when tn,
twinkling stars and pale, flickerinl
moon beamed afar in the heavens
i; we have paused in awe and admiration
and our spirit has flown to the wild'
above, till earthly things are lost il
emotions of the grand, the sublime
What ideas of infinity, of power ant
: duration; what strange thoughts o
God and heaven! And often, whcr
the golden sun was setting, have W.
long watched its fading rays, till OF
; the vapdty clouds it breathed sac
farewell, and tinged with hopes brigh
beams, the deep, blue sky, have W,
: thought
Life, like yonder setting sun,
Fades when twilight's shades appear
I Fades ere hopes Of pleasures won
0 With their cunning, bring US cheer.
These are but memories, stray leaves
from our book of heart, yet they gilt
our soul again with their pleasant anC
genial warmth.
Messy Glen. ESTURAH.
The BRAIN OF CHnDHooD.-It is ;
fact we'll attested by experience, tha
: the memory may be seriously injured
by pressing upon it too hardly anC