Spirit of the age., 1860-11-07
Eao!igs'si', gs'si, 9epartment.
Hrs. NJ. z. GoRMAH, Editress.
What a Miserable worla1

less and rich, has been the MsericS of Life,
and FIVE may believe these Jeremiahs. the
Good Framer Of the Universe was very much
mistaken when, at creation, he pronounced
All that he had made good and very good. All
ths doleiul adjectives of theIanguage, apd in
Vectiyes Of hyperpole, seem to have been ex-
nausted in deiaining this beautiful world of
Oh s and it has been christened vale of
te@rs,' even while is radiant with the smiles
Oi Seneficent Creator Now we object to
MI this profane grumbling; and If poets and
moralizers can employ no other theme, socie-
y can well enough afford to dispense with
Their rhymes and their sermons. Mankind
are bad enough, in all conscience-and among
The stern realities Of life, there is enough
that Is prosaic and unpleasant, without sum-
moning from the land of dreams--from the
empire oil magination--miseries which have
only phantom existence. The truth is, if
We would be honest with ourselves, and dis.
passionately catechize our passions and appe-
utes, over which we have control, we should
hrd that nine-tenths of the troubles about
Mhleh we fret, depend for their existence uhr
or our own willis !; and instead of charging
them upon the general depravity of our ma
tures, we should give full credit for the in
hdence OF particular depravity in individu-
ss-ourselves. AS to total depravity, we
leave that question to be settled by the doc
tors.
The epicure, gourmand and inebriate, who
lot ages have made a general storehouse of
tneir stomachs for all the villainous COM
pounds Of nature and art that come from the
Kitchen and wine cellar, find their overwork-
81 and abused digestive organs worn down
with toll, and refusing to perform their func-
tions. The most delicious fruits, fresh from
the boughs, please not the taste, for in them
turks the fiery tooth of heartburn or some
other head Of the hydra of dyspepsia, and in
stead Of charging this perversion upon their
own excesses, they turn up their blear eyes,
and exclaim, What miserable world
The soluptuary, satiated with pleasure,
and so perverted by sensuality that love ap-
pears 70 him like a finger post directing to
dsappointment and friendship as a painted
sepulchre stands amid the ruins of noble af-
fcetions and holy sensibility, effected by his
iconochs hstc hands at the bidding of ungovern-
cd ptssion sends forth upon the chilling
brcc1ntha surrounds him, the complaint,
ION, his a miserable world =
Thb ambitious man,-the conquerer upon
Buccphalus, bestridng nations, playing at
foo1hh with crowns, or convulsing the world
byatAe throes of his ambition developed in
va4t irmies, and assuming the majesty Of a
dmtfgod, falls from the dizzy height to
Will circumstances had raised him, and,
III lhc very sphere where once he was conten
ted and happy, he piteously bemoans hi
hard fate, and cries out What miserabi
worldr
The gay creature Of fashion, beautiful an
bright as Aurora, Hutters like a butterfly i
the sunbeams Of youth and prosperity, an
draws around her circle of gddy devotee
She drinks in happiness from the scente
fountains ol fashionable pleasures, and view
life through the iridescent media Of romance
But the irosts oftime nips the bud of beaut,
The rose fades from her checks, and age an
other stern realities of life beckon her ava
to the gravities Of social and domestic dut
The charm is brollen-the rainbow hui
mingle with the leaden cloud, her sceptre
influence in the giddy world is exchanged
the distaff and broom, and, unschooled in IL
calm pleasures of dignified womanhood, 81
cxclaims, What miserable worldr
We might extend our catalogue of FOOLS
slandcrers, but these may at present sufiC
There are grades Of excesses and minor m
cries. Yet in nearly all, we may trace th'
origin to our own weak judgments or par
pcrcd desires. Did we but use the gifts
God, through Nature, as we ought did !
but cover the errors Of our fellows with t
broad mantle of Charity first ascertain
motives before we condemn actions, -
should hear little complaining, and sho,
sll agree that this is beautiful world, q
that its Creator is wiser than we. He "
says there is no poetry in life, who consta
ly lells'us there is nothing here worth livi
for, iSa traducer of Deity, and inpugns
wisdom and goodness
When Summer with its buds, and b
Sims, and fruits, and birds of song, col
smiling from the balmy South to cheer
and the warm sun and refreshing show
make all glad in the exuberance of Mot
Earth, do we then see nothing worth liy
fory When the night shadows are upon
earth, the flowers exhale their perfume u
the evening breeze, the stars glitter in
armament and the music of the distant
tcrfall, all combine to please the senses
We then see nothing worth living for W
enter the domestic circle, bright with
beams Of intelligence and warm with
zest Of friendship and love, and witr
connubial happiness in all its delighted
ses, do we then see nothing worth living
When we enter the Holy Sanctuary,
from the commissioned ambassador of G
hear the precious promises of 0mnipc
Goodness, and reflect upon the univers
Of his love for his whole creation; whel
song Of praise and of fervent SUPPLE
fall from the lips of sincerity, and tn,
spartially removed that separates time
tt,. aKIt tho -. A r rS.