Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-18
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH Is. 1850.
iOMMtNlChTED.
INFLUENCE OF HOPE.

INFLUENCE OF HOPE.
A Paper rcod Jctore he Nidiedmy iWcc"m,
m JAMES B. BAKER.
When we consider man merely as visible
and material object Of creation, AS deli
cate refined, and exquisite piece Of ma
chinery, all the parts Of which are harmoni-
ously fitted to each other, and admirably
adapted to every necessity of the sphere in
which he is designed to move, We are COM
PEELED to exclaim that he is wonderfully
and fearfully made" In this aspect it may
still require the skilful hand and plain, but
lucid demonstration of a Paley to dissect
and so exhibit him, as to convince that he is
part of the handiwork of great and ON
nipotent God-to deduce from the creature
the existence of the Creator.
But let him turn the eye of his mind with
in, and contemplate for a moment the ele
ments of the invisible and immaterial man
the component parts of the soul and mind,
with all the passions and impulses, which
call into being and direct his actions--their
fathomless depth, incredible power, and
boundless aspirations, unlimited either by
space or time-and there he will find in
glowing and unmistakeable characters, the
impress of the great seal of Deity. of all
the elements which make up the inner man,
there is not one, perhaps, which exercises
greater influence over his actions than Hope
in truth, it may be called the propelling
power, the basis Of all action, and without it
man would be a Gfeless mass, a passive play
thing for every breeze of chance or circum-
stance that played around him.
1t is the buoyant principle which causes
him to ride smoothly and float calmly on
ward when the sun of prosperity shines
upon him, and the waters of life's sea are
quiet and unagitated; but when clouds lower
around him, and the winds of adversely
break forth in their fury, then it is the great
life-preserver which keeps him above the
troubled, hgh-rolling waves, and enables
him to breast the storm at its height. In
the darkest hour of the storm, above all the
noise of contending elements, which may
seem to have conspired for his overthrow and
ruin it whispers in his ear with "a still,
small voice." this will not always be, bear
with it for a time, and soon the voice of Him
who holds the winds in the hollow Of His
hand will speak, peace, be STILL
Hope is composed of two elements desire
and expectation. Not only wish for some
thing, but belief that it will take place.
And it is this latter element, which invests
it not only with brillianey and beauty, but
gives it real value to man: making it more
precious to him than all the diamonds that
ever decked the person of wealth or royalty,
L. l,a IN
the oceans wave. This principle in man
has warmed the soul of the poet, kindled his
imagination, and drawn from his harp its
loudest and sweetest strains. Spenser in
his Fairy Queen" has represented ita
"a handsome maid
Of cheerful look and lovely to behold;
In silken sanite she was light arrayed.
And her fair locks were woven up in gold.
She always smild and in her hand did hold
A holy water sprinkle, dpt in dew,
With which she sprinkled favors manifold
But it is not only bright and joyous
child, which exists merely in the poets
ina gination, but real and blessed reality,
which Journeys with man all along the pill
grimage of life-gilding with brighter hues
the flowers that may sprinkle his pathway
and robbing Of their bitterest sting the
thorns that may beset him.
When man. who in the garden had basked
in the smiles of his Creator, and held sweet
communion with him, by his own act had
caused that Creator to turn away his face
and Danish him from his presence, he was
not sent forth in utter darkness; but the
great 81 AM" moved with compassion for
his erring, disconsolate child, plucked from
the altar of Heaven the bright and undying
spark of Hope and placed it in his BOSOM
1t was kindled there soon after the morning
stars had sung the song of creation, and the
planets had commenced their majestic steps
to the march of time, and there it will burn
till the word OF omnipotence shall sunder
"The link extreme of time, which joins
The neasurd chain of days, and months, and
years,
To one eternal and effulgent day"
Through sunshine and shadow it guides
man all along the journey of life. AS he
lies an unconscious babe in his mothers
arms, when Hope has not yet placed her
spark upon the tiny altar of his heart, her
flames grow brighter in that mothers bosom
az she traces in her imagination the future
course of his life.
In youth, when his own fancy paints in
captivating colors the heights to which he
must attain in life, it is Hope that causes
him to prepare for the coming contest.
When he has stepped upon the stage OF
action. she nerves him for the strife, and
makes him strike the blows that must open
the road before him. AS he rises step by
step. she opens still wider the horizon of his
vision, and throwing her beams upon other
objects attractive to his eye, whispers that
these too may be his if he will only make
the effort And thus she leads him on max
ing brighter the sunlight of prosperity
But if the way is rugged and weary, and he
falters in his course, Hope is the staff that
supports him.
Ii his arm falls to his side, she raises 1t for
another stroke, and smiling still beckons
him on. Let darkness hover over his path.
way as densely as it may, her beams still
burst through and find their way to his heart:
"Beams of comfort, like the moon through clouds,
Gid the black horror, and direct his way
She gives silver lining to the clouds OF
adversely, and spans the Heavens with the
heart-inspiring bow of better times
Hope springs into being with the earliest
DAYS of mans existence, is the constant
companion of his passing years, and deserts
him not as he glides down the hill OF life
Frequently she twnes her fingers more low
ingly and tenderly among the scattering