Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-04-16
Life,s Rixar.l

deep weters move on slowly, silently to emp.
ty themselves into some great ocean. Res
! ting on its bosom, and moving with it's cur.
rent, is II frai bark, holding tender child
His sparkling eyes, intent on gazing upon
the beauties around him, forget the Guardi-,
an Angel that bends over his little boat, to
! guide it safely down stream.
How like our childhood 5 hours; when, Sc
cuio under q parents protection, we felt no
fear, and. busy with childish,spor we knew
not our debt of deepest gratitude to those
dear guardian angels of our infancy lt is
only when we are tossed ON the ocean of
care and uffiiction, ,leitalUne to guide ourselves
past rocky shores that we can fully realize
the blessings of those forever past, halycon
days of childhood.
Mans life ever changes, and so must change
our scene. Once more we SEQ the little bark
but, in the place Of the sportive child stauds
II noble youth. The gaudy flowers and sing
gmg birds do not attract his notice. but.
with one hand on tho helm that guides his
tiny craft, and the other stretched eagerly
forward, he gazes with rapture ON the gilt
tcring thrones and golden temples of Fame
that rise with dazzling splcndor in the hori-
zon before him. The tide runs swift. and it
seems as though Inc would soon reach that
shining city. and slake his raging thirst with
tho sweet waters from the fountain of Kuowl-
edge Though the guardian angel no lon
ger bends over him, she has not forsnken
N; for, standing on the hank with out
So etched arms, she sadly beckons, yet all in
vain.
All! this is life. How many anoblc youth
has forSaken all, aye, even his Maker to
chase that glittering tomptcr, Worldly Fame
and, when he Thought the prize within his
reach. like bubble it burst, and overwhelmed
him in the ruin.
Youth cannot always last. IT must give
place, ere long to manhood. Streams do not
return to their sources, but forever flow on
and here again changes our scene.,
Once moro we see our voyager on Lies
stream, but he is no longer the eager YOUTH
1t is manhood we now see. There is n bold
ness and decision I'M his eye which VIC saw
not before and mingled look of fear and
resignation animntes his countenancc. Tho
river that WAS before so calm and beautiful
now rushes on it's way with terrific rapidity.
and anon the raging surgcs beat against his
frail bark, as if to wind lin forever in their
cold embrace. The helm now seems useless,
and llc grasps it apparently in vain Gone
arc the once bright skies and gentle breczes
Gone is the golden vision that once lurcd
ann on. Black, heavy clouds now hang
M nd. and the noisy hurricane sweeps past
MIN. Now he approaches a little island in
this terrific stream, but, anon, the furious
current sweeps him quickly past. No guar
dian angel keeps watch over him. His
youthful joys arc now all fled, never to re-
turn. Standing in his bark he battles the
storm alone
There isgrcat meaning in that word--Mon-
hood 1t is man in his highest perfection
| lie can go no higher. Henceforth his course
is downward Now it is that he has to en-
counter the scrvercst trials of life True
the sky may sometimes brighten on "life's
horizon" showing here and there Il twinkling
star, but the ever floating clouds
| Scarce reveal its cheering light,
Ere tbs vcilcd again from sight"
| with that faculty, so Indispensable to true
| Manhood--stern Rcsolution-that strange
unhinching will that trumphs over all diff
cultics, man is fully fitted to come out vic
torious over lfo's many temptations
Yet, again, the scene changes. and fnr the
last time. Again all is calm 1t is twilight;
and, seated in his little bark, see lfe's yoya.
ger, but how changed. Gone is his former
vigor; gone the look of defiance There is
now no sound Of surgng waters. No bur
ricane's voice disturbs his peace, but the
cool acphyrs play with his silvec locks, and
fan his turrowcd brow.
Once moro we sec the guardian angel. MS
she flies to his side, and bending over the
dgcd muR as once over the lMle chitd she
supports his weary head and points him 70
house not made with hands," whcro being
weary, he shall rest. Night settles over the
scene and Life's weary voyager moors his
fraii bark in the haven of Eternity.
- -
The Cur OF TEARs.-A GERMAN STo-
RY.--Thero was once a mother and child
and the mother loved her only child with
all the affection of her whole heart, and
| thought she could not 1--we without it; but
the Almighty sent great sickness among
children, which seized this little one, who
lay on its sick bed, even unto death--
Three days and three nights the mother
watched and wept, and prayed by the side
of her darling child, but it died The mo-
ther, now left alone iii the wide world d, gave
way to the most violent and unspeakable
grief, she ate nothing and drank nothing,
and wcpt for three long nights without
ecasing calling constantly upon her child.
The third night, as she thus sat overcome
with suffering in the place where her child
had died, her eyes bathed in tears and faint
from grief the door softly opened, and the
mother started, for before her stood her de-
parted child. 1t hal become a heavenly
angel, and smiled swcctly as innocence, and
was beautiful like the blessed 1t had on
its head small cup that was almost run
ming over, so full it was And the child
spoke: go dearest mother, weep no more
for me; the angel of mourning has coIlec-
tea in this little cup the tears which you
have shed for me. If for me you shed but
one tear more it will overflow, aud shall
/ L. II