Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-05-03
VOL. Kin.
ERE PWo arrrR.

A boy with earnest eyes knelt az his moth
eF's knee. She -strOked the gold Of his yellow
hair and bade God bless her boy. He grew
in years and strength and one day in his boy
ish dreamingS, there appeared to him spirits
each Offering him q gift The gifts were
attractive yet be could choose but one. One
vas Q pearl, which at first might seem of little
value, but the more be looked 1t il, the more
brighter IL grew, until you say it was the
pearl Of great price-the love Of God. The
other was yellow gem Of most goOdly seem
ing. burning with GerVent rAdianos, and was
the love Of gold.
Years passed away springs were succeeded
By summers, and summers pasaed away into
cold autumns and cold winters And as the
years came and went, ell the time the boy q
heart was busy within him. He was q bold
brOWed youth with aashing eyes, but their FIRE
was dimmed for time, for bis mother faded
and at length withered away. Birds sang, and
danced, and the siivery water bells tinkled IN
The streams, and dahdeliOns spsngled the green
turf upon his mothers grave, and the youth s
heart was soltened. The mildly beaming
pearl seemed loTeIIeF in bis eyes for his mother
had blessed it.
He would have taken Il 70 his heart, but
the spirit Of the other love was close beside
hs ear. "Wilt thou choose that, and with il
property and content among men Look
this shall bring thee happiness, for 'tEules
mankind. Itshall gil thy Golfers and tne men
shall call the honorable. Il shall bring thee
power and honor with its Pichea. II shall make
for the ready segvitors, for tho shalt say to
this one go" and to another Come" and all
shall do thy bidding. Il shall bring thee that
what satisfies, for il shall bring thee homage
from fellow men.
And then in the boys ears sounded his
mothers words, Fear God rather than man. .
Seek first the Kingdom Of God"
The boy became man, jet began to pass
UNDECIDED amOng men for be had not goId.-
His proud spirit conld not brooke the worlds
neglect. The pearl was offered to him again.
Would be choose that and walk obscurely,
or the other, and be rich and bodored for
bis crown of goldi .,..sg
He forgot his mothers words, be forgot the
all seeing eye, be forgot the yearning tender
ness Of him that became poor that we through
his poverty might be made rich. lie forgot
was his nature. that, unconsciously to him, il
supplanted all other nHectionsl The desire Of
gold that he might command the homage OF
men burned deep in his heart. It corrodcd
and consumed the memories of his early life;
and the long grass, sodden with rain. over his
mothers grave wept the only tears which
we're now shed there.
The earnest tender light had faded from bis
eyes-they were now cold and hard; and in
stead Of the open grace which had been their
want, they bad now a repellent suspicious
glnre. His form was bent. too, and the brow
furrewed and knit with care. In the worn,
repulsive man you scarcely recognized that
frank and noble youth; for those powers which
might have give him bigh place in the in
telectual world were prostituted to the base,
sordid use Of mODey-making. his heart was
canker beaten.
But he gained his ends. Gold freely, lavish
ly flowed into his money chests, and men-lOw-
minded men-bowed, but they reverenccd him
not! When those who he'd early loved him he
lived unloving and unIoved. For he had lost
all generous impulses, and was now only mi
ser. OtbeF Ulen had treasures in the house-
holds; he had none but in chests and drawers
and bags. Other men had treasures in hen-
ven; be had Doue there. but boarded them al
on earth. He was offered the Pearl of Great
Price but refused it. He was offered the Love
Of Gold and accepted it. He chose for whaI
be should live, and lived for it. And then be
miserably diedl The 6rst spirit came TO bis
bedside the other came also and mOeked. What
shall II nrofif a man IL he Oain the wholC
world, and lose his own aOuli