Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-05-24
The Git os .i,e Gods.

| 1t is related that =. meeting o. the gods,
they proposed to presen. unto fallen man such
! gift5 az would most please his f.ncies and ill.,.
| tarest His passions Baccaas aad ComIs o.
cred Pleasure, which ns5 saE2rly contested
for b. the CAV, The .!oagh,!eas ani ,hs vain
who, binje BY its seductive form, seized tbs
enuciag gift aud forgot their morals, 7irtns
aud truth in ita posseasi3n. But Oh, the mia
cry, the anguish, The pe.a mhich II brought
| upon i,s gay aud idle votesies who srasped
the baubie but to see it melt w thin their grasp
aud Ieave them the sud and hopeless hei,s of
pain and misery.
Next Venus offered Beauty, which was clam
ored for by the young, the proud, the vain,
who like blinded fools, saw not i,s passing
brightness, i,s ,rancient loyeliness, bu. be-
held it as an immaculate, faieloss principle OF
purity and fairness; for beauty dazr.ci thor
perceptions and corrupted their visions; and
with eagerness approaching madness, they
sought to gain the god igss enchanting Gift.
Some gained il and basaet awhile amid the
smiles orconscious BEAUTY, displaying in every
action their hau.eur OF neart, in every look
their superciliousness Of mind But thsir
reign of beauty was brief, their fall igno5.c.
Soon they saw their beauty fade, precaiyel
The vernal bloom OF youth decay, and their
golden locks fade into the s.lvery locke OF sge.
and witt, ngled sorrows grief and pain they
yiellcd up their gilded gift, aai sadly mourn
ed its loss
Then nlutns offered wealth, tic .littering.
dizz in; gi.; You with eager hope and
jealous c,.re. sought TO win the gift Of gold.
while manhood strove with ,renchcry, tumult
AMI rage to win the sotdid treasure. Age
viewed the strife V in silent nein, aud strovs
70 win lie gliter;ng prize By artiice and cnn-
ming Lnavery. Few won tile golden gift,
however while many failed, wrapping their
failure in tie gloom Of grief Willis those who
woa we're permitted 20 enjoy but a passing
vanity, which failed t. please their eager love
of gain and with eeasless energy they en-
deayored TO grasp tie ,s.alth Of othera. Elm
ploying vice, crime, and all The evils Of tts
vile, to gain the further object Ok .heiv strifs.
they still stroYe vainiy on !.
Another gil, was offered ny tile muses.,
eye, and pleased the thouyhifnl. studied gaze
Of genius. With reckless courage and INFER.
pil action, ambition thought TO win the fan
tasi.c gift, daring danger, enduring toll, pass
ci tie barriers which held the gift from him,
and seized il in his ardent grasp, 10 hnti. alas!
it was but the record Of his toils-the history
Of his daring action. With calus delight and
sadulous study genius stroye to win the de.
lusive gif, aud after tedious toll and long
continued strife il gained its object. and found
it was but the pietu:e 81 its works-the de-
scrip.ion gifts toll.
Lastly yacana offered Rect and Content
ment. Bat her gift vas so unpretending, 70
uaassnning, that none sought to win it, the
fairest gif, Of all but passed by without ore
admiring look, one effcr: 70 obtain.
With sad thoughts that man should be ~
careless Of the real, so eager 10 attain the chi.
merical, The goddess sv.thlrcw her gift. ieav-
ing man to pursue his efforts to possess the
less worthy gifts of her fellow acities.
And go II has ever been since the meeting oI
tie gods. Nan has ercr heen striving 70 pos>
sess that C!opiau phantom Pleasure; longing
to grasp Beauty the reil Of all deceit; wrang-
ling to obtain Weallh's sord.d gold; striving
to gain that glitter;ng bautle Fame; leaving
in their mad pursuits, Vaeuna's holy gift au-
sought. Hence. none possess that treasure,
contentment-rest.