Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-05-24
yum NJ Q NIC.iI Id
SCARED LIVES.

Imagine man in broad, open field, sklrtcd
with luxuriant growth of every hue, aud en-
amelled with richest verdure The sun shines
in uninterrupted spcndor. All nature Is at
peace, and breathes out harmony, from the
little bee that huns about her lavorite flower,
to the sweet murmur Of The brook, that gdas
on its way like minstering angel, carrying
gadness and fertility far and wide. The man
drinks in this loneliness, and gazes in bcwider-
ing delight upon the Unsuitable variety Of ma
ture;" and his heart is thrilled with grateful
admiration, as he asks himself can there be
sin and dcformity in world so beautiful?'
The scene changes. The multerines of 4
coming storm are heard in the distance. They
draw nearer The angry clouds gather and
trown; and at last threaten to pour out the
walls of their wrath The cloudbatteries
thunder forth peal after peal, as the 1orkcd
lightning leaps from its hiding place, and scat
ters destruction with pitiless fury. The slcn-
earth no plant, however hardy, but yields sub
'giants Of the forest" still stand, rooted to the
H.,
ments, when a binding flash lights up the
heavens, and massive bolts from the artillery
above rend their towering heads, and leave
them mangled, mutiatcd wrecks-a mockcry
of their former grandeur.
The clouds roll away, and the tloodgatcs are
closed. The sun comes out once more, and
tcmpts even the modest violet to look up and
take heart again. The trees shake their wet
locks, and soon not spcck appears upon the
blue vault of heaven :! :: x X
A year passes. The man returns to this
scene of beauty and wonder; again he rejoices
in the magnificent review OF natures forces
ia the contemP lation Of her Astounding re-
sources. But things are not as they werc.-
Those grand old oaks, with all their efforts at
rejuvcnation, bear only too plainly the CYL
dences Of last year fierce battle and though
they may increase in vigor, and every season
add to their foliage, there arc marks upon their
bodies which will remain forever, monuments
to the fury Of their combat
So is it in lfe Storms will come Hearts
that never dreamed of change or desolatiOn are
often torn and dismemhercd BY the sweeping
blast of some great sorrow, whose traces, deep
~ craven will Iinger for lie, in spite Of all at
tempts to regain new strength and fresh nc SIS. -
The Illustration Of some cherished plan, the
disdain or neglect Of IN unjust, inapprccatlVc
world the failure OF lltc-WOrk, family dis
grace, crushing bereavement, or hllghted love,
will leave Il scar, tender and sensitive, never TO
be effaced until the Recording Angel shall have
closed his varied account OF the wounded
spirits lows and SORROWS in this pathway be
tween the two eternitics The man may seem
to recover his wonted energy, and cheerlulncss
appear to resume her rel en-, but the mark Is
there notwithstanding all bis efforts to be him
self again.
1t may be that, to all appearances, the cheek
has not received another turrow, and that the
form has lost nothing of its symmetry; but
the scar is Somewhere, even on the body, if we
could only see it. and the secret will be known
in that day when all mysteries shall be barred
before an assembled world. 49,.
In the cemeteries of our city, one may here
and there find a grave whose freedom from the
weeds which enveop so many of the forgotten
mounds around them, tells Of the loving hands
and hearts Of those who, though perhaps mar
lie and nearing the daybreak of another world
cannot refrain from paying this touching tribute
of remembrance to early love, and retain that
affection n their souls rs the crystal preserves
the drop OF water which snmbcrs in its bosom,
hardened it may be, without, but really a:
| fresh, and clear, and bright, rs when first con
fined in it's beautiful prison house
Until "this mortal put on Immortality, ant
sthis corruption is clothed upon with incorrup
ton" shall the unwrittcn history OF shawdow
| ed lives be repeated; and so we need not wonder
that TO many climbing the rugged chill Of diff
fculty' leading up to glory, there is no swecte,
| promise than that which tells Of an "inheri
lance that Ju7eh not a1cay d" I'M the land whert
no storms come, and hopeis undarkened by The
dread Of disappointment. PATtENs.