The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-03

"lney are nOtnlnS OUT men, women, ana
children" these immortals that crowd our
pathway, and by constant companionship
become so unintercsting. We are apt to re-
gard the " shifting scene" in which they move
with blinded eyes and unsusceptble hearts,
and to look away to some theatre of brilliant
and surprising events for an idea Of what the
great world is doing, and for the working Of
that mysterious power which we denominatc
life. But there is a picture ever before our
eyes, as complete in each part, as varied in
lights and shades as any we may have imag-
ined. Whether we are in the field, the crowd
cd mart, or by our own freside, we behold
the pulse of life beating on but are unmindful,
perhaps, that every scene is partot the pan
Drama, bearing such momentous issues, and
moving towards the goal of human destiny.
The darkening shadow and the pail of
death sometimes directs the wandering mind
to the realities of our existence, and gives it
a comprehensive vision. While mourning
the fading of earthly hopes, the fall Of the
sere and yellow leaf the infants untimely
death, the strong mans burial, we often ex-
claim, with pang Of conscious selfweakncss,
" Such is life!" So, likewise, we may be-
hold all our buds of promise bursting into
flowers, and repeat, with equal truthfulness,
d" Such is life!' We dwell not altogether in
shadows thanks to God! Hark to natures
ten thousand minstrcs; see the glorious sky
above, taste the sweet joys of love and friend
ship which flow almost without measure to
human hearts, and confess how sweet, after
all, is this swain, ilnsive world" Shadow
and sunshine, justly blended together, make
up the picture on which we gaze, and which
shall descend to coming generations.
What food for study and theory We may
discover by glancing upon the throngcd street
of city. Imagination flies through a hun
dred probable and improbable spccalations,
as crowds move forward, divide, pass from
sight, and others appear and occupy their
places. Here mingle closely people Of both
sexes, of all ages, and, perhaps, of many ma.
tions; but with widely different feelings, i'll
forests and aspirations. Here are suilen,
wild, proud, calm, innocent, guilty, gay, and
sorrowful faces, bearing expressions as varied
and numerous as are the passions that ami
mate the hearts Of men. Very soon we find
ourselves giving expression to our thoughts,
so sure arc we of the correctness Of our theo-
ry. 1t is certain that that man with the
hard, stony eyes and eager face, jostling the
crowd uncercmoniously from his path, is strid-
ing to the worship of his hearts idol-gold.
1t must be, too, that that pale girl is seam
stress, and is going to her thankless task,
where in the lonely hours Of night, she is
wearing away the remnant of her unhappy
life There is a staid, elderly man with a
kind, benevolent face. If he has not money
to give, he surely has gentle words, pity, and
sympathy for the unfortunate. There is a
stalwart African bearing within his dark bo-
som a light and cheerful heart. There,
the son OF the millionaire, looking scornfully
into the face of the boggar by his side. That
smiling coquettish girl, thirstlng for admira-
ton is not more beautiful than was once the
wretched being in tinsel and dingy laces,
whom she is passing Ah there is a thoug ht
ful young student dreaming Of labor, and Of
laurels for his reward and closely following
him a hardened villain, on whom words OF
love, sympathy and warning are as vain in
thoir influence as is the idle wind. Yonder
the carriage of rich man passes, and smiling
faces peer out in painful contrast to that mea-
ger funeral procession, following its pale dead
to an humble burial. Thus we behold the
mass, composed of such different elements,
moving steadily onward
Each where his tasks or pleasures call
They pass and heed each other not
There is who heeds who holds them all
In His large love and tender thought
These struggling tides of life that seem
In hayward, aimless course to tend,
Are eddies of the mighty stream
That rolls to its appointed end''
NJ. A. H.