The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-04-17
lFor the Spirit
LIFE.-WHAT rs TIT

current to the deep sea of eternity. A
mysterious vail receding with each step
Of human progress. A closely written
volume, page after page, full of Shat2-
Lofty aspirations never realized--a long
ing for something good aud holy which
was just beyond the grasp. A pure page
spoiled by one dark stain which could
never be erased. A to-day, upon whose
green sward our feet have been planted,
over which the sweet flowers of hope are
clustering--each tiny one saying to us:
there are bright pleasures in this cold
world, and life may be made as fairy
dream. 'Tis broad sweeping forest, pen
ciled by natures skillful figuring, deli
cately colored to charm the eye-ever
changing the panorama she presents
here storm-defying oak rears its lofty
head far toward the canopy aboye-there
slender willow swaylng its tender,green-
robed branches with every passing breeze,
dropping gracefully as if to bow ia rever.
ence to the hand that cares for its wants
Life is troubled dream, filed with phan.
tom resolves half-formed- haunted by
consciously neglected duty we'll known-oi
broken vows, crushed hopes--conficts Of
right aud wrong-a stream that carries
the pleasant past down to the changeless
ocean of futurity. It is the play ground
with its innocent and enjoyed recreation
"a walk down the thoroughfare of a
great city, where its counter tides are in
full flow. 1t crowds this mystery upon
the mind almost painfully. There is nc
escape-more alone than IN the depths oi
the most desolate wilderness.
As we scan the face of each passer by,
what world of meaning? We can read
almost as from the pages Of written
volume the history, the life of each. Ask
them, one and all: What is life? With
quick uplifting Of swimming eyes, the
lady in sable mourning robes, which
mutely speak of some deep afliction, re-
plies, "life is crushing blank, forcing
to action the broken heart, which antici-
pates no relief save in the cold and lowly
grave" What says the serious looking
gentleman? "Life is the noble perform
ance of what the great I Am has comman-
ded, following in the footsteps Of the
meek and lowly Savior" Strong, brave
manhood cries, "Life is a race course
where the prize is not always to the swift;
but he that endureth to the end shall have
the crown" Ask the frail, fair one in
the crimson robe, from whose brow has
been dashed the beautiful tracery Of pure
thought-she who has just passed. IL
horror at the i'll timed query, she shriekl
de6antly: "Life is mockery-an empty
nothing pleasures grasped for and lost
| it is bubble which perishes at the touchl'
The silver-headed sage exclaims: aLife
is span, a succession of a few Aeetine
days and years, all too short to grasp the
mysteries of its own meaning''
/
We turn away, still haunted by tn,
query; it is to US as
"The raven never fitting, still is sitting, still
is sitting ss4a
On the pallid bust of Pales, just above m,
chamber door.
And my soul from out that shadow that fel
/ floating on the floor,
i Shall be lifted nevermore"
/ Life is a ceaseless, voiceless, restless
Onl Onll A lovely imperaled, but delu
sive may bean igais fatuus tomorrow
which leads US on, always with the delu
Isive fancy that one more step, and th'
prize SO long and vainly followed woul,
be ours, all ours. If it be happiness tina
lis sought, it is just in view, and as b
that pursues the "Will o. the Wisp''-i
is as treacherous.a as one hand is stretche,
to clasp it. lol it is as far before us as i
was at first.
Life is battle field, upon which ar
struggling for the mastery-Right an
! Wrong. Shielded in glitttering armol
which flashes back thousand rays to th
day king from the tiny scales which, fish
Hike. compasses his armor-with haught
} and defiant mien stands Wrong. Rlght
all unarmed, save with the sword q
Truth, calmly and undauntedly meets hi
foe carefully and skillfully he wards o
each impetuous stroke--meekly and mod
estly he wears upon his noble brow th
!. victor's crown. i''a
Many the base desires which conten
with our better natures; and how often, to
5 often, does that nature yield for want
! courage, moral courage to do right Ho
many can traverse the battle field of the
: lives and find, almost at every step, tt
lmangled and stifsned forms of broke
q promises, which were made at the earne
: entreaty of some dear friend, to SAY
Il Chem or you) from destruction, towhic
a they were sorapidly tending2 With VIII,