Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-11-26
lFor the Spectator.

Hope is bright star whose brilliant ant
cheering rays brighten our dark and dreary
passage across lifes tempestuous sea which, al
though it sometimes grows dim and clouds gath
er and obscure for while it's brilliancy, never
entirely vanishes from our horizon until our last
breath expires. On the threshold of eternity,
earthly hope takes its flight and bestows its
welcome beams upon some weather-beaten and
wearied one travelling through this vale of tears.
How many have felt its cheering presence when
IN att1lctlon's s ruthless grasp, and when despair
has nearly crushed them to the earth by its
baneful influence. 1t comes to them and bids
| them dry their tears and look up Thus en-
couraged, they raise their dropping heads and
| the future, that seemed SO dark and dreary but
moment before, seems illumned as ifby magic.
| Their energies are renewed and they press for
ward with new zeal and hoping hearts. They
no longer bow their heads and exclaim in bit
| bear, but despair glides swiftly away, and hope
radiant and smiling accompanies them along a
brighter pathway.
Hope is ever lowering over the sad and af.
| tllcted, bidding them look forward to a better
and happier time Look at that Peri, when
her unfortunate race was banished from the
portals OF heaven, she stands near the gate
and with tears streaming down her cheeks,
views with wlstful gaze the scene of her past
glory and happiness An angel observing her
distress. approached and addressed her. I'm
medlately her tears cease to flow, and her fea-
lures resume their wonted brilliancy as she
bends forward and listens attentively. What
magic can have wrought such wonderful
change? None other than the fairy wand of
hope. for the angel has told her, that He who
brought boon most dear to heaven, should be
forgiven. When the angel ceases, she wings
her way through the earth Oh how her
heart throbs with delight at the thoughts that
hope has kindled Past pleasures rise up be-
fore her and anticipations Of future joys cheer
her young heart. She carried the last drop of
hero,s blood but the gates of heaven moved
not Though sadly disappointed when told
there yet was dearer boon, hope did not de-
sert her, but she again goes in search of that
key which will unlock for her the golden gates
OF heaven. Once more she returns: this time
she brings the last sigh of selfsacri6cing love.
But again her hopes are doomed to be disap-
pointed, for the gates remain stationary Weary
and disappointed, her bright hopes all blasted,
there yet remains enough hope to bid her try
again. Wearily and slowly she scars away and
returns with tear of repentance The gates
OF heaven flew open, and the happy and tri-
umphant Peri exclaimed,
Joy, joy forever, my task is done
The gates are passed and heaven is won.
What was it that enabled the Peri to perse-
we're under so many disappointments? Bright
winged Hope, which is ever ready to point us
to something brighter and fairer than that
which We possess. Many time, when we have
failed In some important undertaking, some
times repeatedly. Hope says, try once more, and
you may meet with more success At the die
tates OF that sweet Being, the trial is made and
success crowns our efforts
But tor hope, many person would die of
ennui, and pass off the stage of life, unhonored
and unsung. Hope enters the despairing
school-boy's heart, and bids him put his every
faculty In operation, and he will become an in
telligent and useful man. Nerped by this
cheering hope, he enters upon his studies with
more zeal and exerts all his powers, and thus
often arises to emlnence.
When absent far from those we love, what
consoles us in regard to our separation? The
hope OF meeting them again. Oh! what sad
ness would forever hover over the unfortunate,
what dark clouds obscure their sky, were they
forever deprived of the sweet influence and
bright rays of hope Yet oftentimes our hopes
are all blasted the cup of happiness, that has
been filing for years, is suddenly dashed to the
earth. What should we then do? Sit and re-
pine over our blighted hopes? No. Hope
again smiles, and the future seems bright, so
we press forward towards it with renewed en-
ergy ana bright antlclpatlOnS.
Our dearest and most cherished hopes are
often blasted by the reaper, Death, which spares
none The old and the young, the rich and the
poor, must alike suocumb to him. Look at
that beautiful little boy with dark curling hair
and flashing black eyes, He is the hope and
pride of his fond parents. Death comes and
claims him, thus blighting all their bright
hopes.
The bitter elimination of our fondest hopes,
in our darkest disappointments, is beautifully
illustrated in the shape of an allegory by a
pleasant and charming writer. A gaudy but
terfiy, awaking one summers night, viewed in
the wide expanse above him the glittering stars.
Deeming them rare and fragrant flowers from
whose gorgeous, petals he might extract the
purest honey, he left his bed amid the guar
dian foldings of tube rose, and spreading his
golden wings, scared towards them; but ere
the goal was reached, the cool breeze of morn
ing chilled him, and the dawning light efaced
from his view the sparkling objects of his ambi-
ton. How symbolical of man watching afar
off the gorgeous stars of his hopes and desires
which he longs to grasp How surely comes
the still morning of Death and blots them from
his horizon. Hope born of earth must die but
heaven born hope is immortal and will never
decay or pass away. E. G. w.
TALooT ?. O., CHARLOTTE Co., VA.
THE New York Herald gives the following
description of the Alabama State Convention,
which the Richmond Wing says applies equally
well to the Virginia State Convention
"Here are constitution makers who not only
cannot write their names but cannot always tell
what their names are. Moses, possessed of all
the learning of the Egyptians, and divinely in
spired, made constitution for his people, and
why should not Sambo make constitution
when he gets the chance? Plato was consti-
tuition maker also; nations of antiquity sent
their delegates years journey to have their
constitutions shaped by the wisdom of the Sta
gyrite Menu, Solon, Lycurgus were constitu-
ton makers; Rome, before the time of the
Twelve Tables, feeling the necessity for con-
stitution, sent wise men into all the cities of
Greece to study the forms of government and
frame her law; all the barons of England be-
came constitution makers in another age and
now all the niggers of Alabama are to give the
subject their lofty consideration. Madison,
Hamilton, Jefferson, Jay were constitution ma
kers. and they have their successors. Sambo,
Cufee and Pomp are the names that our age
adds to the illustrious list that, beginning with
Solon, comes down to Story. Constitution ma
| kers were the wisest men of nation, and now
| they are the men whose learning consists in the
ability to distinguish between pork and possum
Happy age.
R.DJCAr pJI OrC-tsT Lpou, ovor,, bor IL .,