Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-04-07
fWHOLE NO. 1876

moon and STARS are keeping bright vigil
above theE forever. Aye, cities are urned
within this starry cemetery: they. too, are
are entombed within this grand, sepulchral
| planet, WHICH is ever revolving through In
finity, blending the wailiDg music Of its
dirges with the joyous anthem Of the morn
ing sta's. Stsrs have vanished in the
depths of space from morta! vision. Seas
are sweeping where once proud cities stood.
| Sands hath filed up the palaces of old,
| Sea weeds o'ergrown the halls OF regelry."
Magnificent temples of marble and gold,
where crowned heads were bowed to tho
King OF Kings; whore throngs on throngs
of worshippers wept and prayed. who have
passed away forever: glittering palaces,
cities, and cleaning monuments of the il
lustr ious dead, fled with splendor the won
drous land Of the Past-the glorious Long
Ago. Time has breathed on them, in his
flight, and now the soft starlight tenderly
glimmers on the lonely ruins of those grand
ediices, and the silver moonbeams light the
deserted halls and grass-sroSn aisles, and
robe tie crumbiing domes and columns with
melancholy glory; and ivy and flowers
weave blooming drspery over their DESC
Ia,ion. WHO could gaze upon those moul-
dering relics Of antiquity, those decaying
| remnants OF sncien, glory. and not sigh for
those resplendent mans Ons "not made with
| hands eternal in the heaTeHs!'' for that
! everlasting city whose walls are built of
lusirous gems. whose gates afe Of pearl
and whose streets are gold! that glorious
! city whose architect is God! Who can
idly wander sniid the beuu,eous groves and
bowers Of earth, which, ere long, shall
wlther from his view, and make no effort 10
! reach the ever blooming bowers of E!ysirm:
How can man, with an immortal soul,
whose existence in the endless hereafter
sha Il be eternal as that Of Deity--man bo
Is but "a little low er than the angels" how
Can he trihe away the precious moments
that God has given him, when well does he
know that his everlasting bliss or woe de-
pends upon the manner in which he dispo.
ses of those feeiing moments! How can
he stand aloof, like rebellious child gazing
deian;ly in his Almighty Fathers face, re-
fusing TO win that Greu, Parent's love, and
TO secure the inheritance that fadeth no.
away:
Are the youthful improving their lime as
they should! The present generation will
soon pass away. The children of to-day,
will bs tie men and women of Tomorrow.
Ere long the affairs OF the wurld will be
committed TO their hands. Are they fitting
themselves for the solemn trust, Are they
rendering themselves capable 10 control the
destin;es OF msnkikd! To vie Id the scep.rs
over the happiness Of their iellow-beings.
Are they preparing to meet their God! To
guide lost man in the wSy to HeaysBl O,
that youth could but estimate the priceless
value OF Time, Their career in Time will
determine their destiny in Eternity. Let
every human being upon the face Of th.
beautiful earth, regardless Of age, wealth,
rank, or condition, strive to we'll fulfill ;heir
part in lie. Faint not in the way. Let
no timid neari shrink back from the stormy
path; but bfaVely 90 on, Upward and or
ward, until the crown of Victory shall eDcir-
Gle with starry light each tricmphal pilgrims
i1morisl brow; until ctch enc shall ex-
change the faded yestIents of mortality for
shining robes o. white, aid the worn staff
for harp OF gold, where tliss'ul me !odies
shall echo forever through the glorious
aisles 0; eternity.
Some are always peering into the dark
Future with melancholy gaze, striving TO
catch glimpse OF the sunny cline of Hap
piness. Weariiy they toll through the
dreary Present, and still that visionary land
el Ides them. But il fate has debarred them
from happiness upon earth, sill they can
look smii.ugiy beyond Jordyn, beyond the
chill waves ot the River OF Death, 10 the
shores of Elysium. lis no dream, no vis-
ion. that everlasting, la&e'ess land. Yet,
we should sndeayor 10 be always glad and
contented, and no, wander gioomi!y along,
with pinng hearts. and mournful cuunts-
nances, promising Joy IL ourselves at some
distaat pe.oI in the Future Tor We exist
only in the Present.
Clothe every inciten; q; our lives, brigh,
OF dark, " ith flowers and sunshine from our
own hearts. sud even mantle with blo,m
the ruins OF eur ioOtest hopes, although
each leaf and blossom be nurturFd with cur
tears. Let TIE sunbeams OF IluPe paint
with rsinbows each m ST of tears that dimly
overspreuds cur way; So shall We move
through Time with halo of cheer!ulness
sver shining abou; Us, irrsdisting the dim
pathway tor ourselves and fellow travellers.
We should 50 live that when the arch.
angel shall announce TO the listening uni
verse that Time shall be no longer, We can
GLADLY ana iaarlssslv hear that irrevocsble