The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-11-03
For The -E5is and Mtelligeneer
DISAPPOINTMENT.
"Thy Christening rod but terrifies
The worthless and the bad"

The worthless and the bad.'
So sang Henry Kirke White, whose
promise of famous career was "nipped
in the early bud" At the age Of twenty
one he fell victim to consumption
leaving poems, of which Sir Edward
Bridges beautifully says: "Amopg them
are few of the most exquisite pieces
in the whole body of English poetry"
The lives of most of the eminent present
similar instances Of disappointment
teaching the sad lesson that the gifted by
nature and fortune are as vulnerable as
those less favored
1t was the youthful ambition of Sir Wal
ter Scott to acquire landed estate. For
this purpose it was that he strove in the
lists of literary merit. He succeeded, and
acquired magnificent estate. "Abbotts-
ford rose like"a dream of beauty" and was
the admired of all observers. But dis
appointment stretched forth its relentless
hand, and in old age this great man was
offered the choice of poverty or dishonor
We all know his choice-we all have felt
our eyes grow dim with mingled emo
tons of pity and admiration, as we have
read of the most chivalrous Of men, in his
old age leaving his cherished home for
London garnet, and starting anew 10 the
perils of an authors life.
This immortal author of "The Pleas
ures Of Hope" found at the domestic
hearth that disappointment for which the
plaudits of his admiring countrymeu could
not atone-his only child an imbecile.
Napoleon, who had saved France from
anarchy, who had affrighted all Europe
with the lightning of his military genius,
met disappointment on the fatal field of
Waterloo. For five long, weary years
disappointment was his companion, until
death, more merciful to him than his foes,
released him from prison, aud them from
fear.
Brutus thought he was doing patriotic
action when he couspired against his
friend and ruler, but disappointment fol-.
lowed. Defeated in battle by the dead
Caesar, whose spirit still held its sway
over the minds of men, Rrutus took that
life which God gave and which it is a
crimc for man 10 take. He committed
suicide.
The great sporting authority, Crank
Forester,' has vein of morbid melancho
ly running through his descriptions of
guns, dogs, &C., and he eventually was
guilty Of the crime of suicide.
Let these few examples suffi ice to show
that reverscs in life are not of yesterday :,
but are an old, old, fashion, that has
been since the foundation of the world.
Tho question now occurs, is it right
TO say because we have met disappoint-
IN Mt, "God is not good--He is not just
i have no faith in the Christian
Religion--in the Holy Catholic Church ?"
If we admit tina. Gods Wisdom and Love
are depths no finite mind can fathom-
then we must admit, "whatever is, is
right )" and that for some good purpose
the cloud looms in the sky, aud that
however dark and threatening, it is under
His control who is Love unspeakable.
Ii we do not admit the infallibility OF
God, VIC are not members of His Holy
Church, whatever may be in name, and
are worse than inGdels for He has come
to US, though not to them, and we perceive
Him not--He is not our God.
1t becomes us, then, with patient and
cheerful spirit to meet disappointment, re.
Numbering ale doth not willingly afliot "
1t becom mes US, amid the wreck of shatter.
cd fortune, of brilliant exploits, of fond
hopes, to say in the language of Henry
krke White,
'Though Fancy flies away before the hollow
tread,
Yet meditation in her cell
Hears with faint ears the lingering knell
That tells her hopes nre dead.
And though the tear,
BY chance appear,
Yet can she smile, and say, "My oil was no,
laid here"