The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-10-03
fur tIIe Oe
The Web of Life.

A soft silken curtain sways gently to and
fro with the fitful breeze, and as we note the
golden threads so beautifully intermingled
with sombre ones, it reminds us of the
changeful web of life.
A lovely babe, innocent and pure, sleeps
peacefully on yonder downy pillow; only
caresses and loving words are breathed to it
by a mothers lips. But as we gaze the scene
changes,-and the infant has budded into
beautiful child,-golden curls falling lightly
on the white neck, and eyes of Heavens
blue, looking up trustfully. All childhood's
petty cares he must experience tears one
moment shadow the sunshine of his face, but
the clouds soon break away, and smiles once
more play around his infantile mouth
Youth soon claims him. All the beauty of
the child is retained, only more intelligence
beams from the broad, expansive brow.
Bright threads only has his life woven
thus far; he has encountered no sorrow:
but in this happy Inconsistencies Death
enters the home-circle and snatches from
his embrace, his mether,-the guide of his
childhood and youth. Oh! it is agonizing
to give her up; but as he gazes Heaven
ward, he sees q white-robed angel, with the
harp of God in one hand, and with the
other she points beyond the azure vault bid
ding look there for support and consolation.
This is his first sorrow, hiding in its black
despair all the brightness Of earlier years.
However, as time slowly glides by, the
wound is somewhat healed, only to be born
afresh when he uncovers the picture inscrib-
ed on memory's golden wall. Ambition
now becomes fire, which kindles his brain
and flashes from his eye, and after years of
study, the spirit of poesy throws over him,
in all its beauty, her magic spell, and he be-
comes great, honored and famous. From
the high pinnacle where fame has placed
him, covetous men look and sigh for his po
sition. Fortune lays her treasures at his
feet, and laurals are showered upon him
yet with all these he is unhappy; for what
are all earth's treasures when the soul is not
at rest He travels in foreign climos in
search ofhappiness, but finds it not, although
the emotion which fills his heart when gaz.
ing on earths grandest beauties, is some
thing akin to it. He pours out the feelings
of his heart and soul in poetry, and the
world wonders at the sad sweetness Oft
In his wanderings he meets kindred spirit,
as lovely in person as mind, who common
ces with him anew his life path. All is
happiness for awhile, as they walk through
pleasant valleys by pearly streams, on whose
banks bloom the most beautiful flowers
Little ones cluster around them, and his
thoughts are Of worldly things and of the
future life Of his children thinking not Of
Him who gave them and who can take them
away. He is surprised when God shortens
their lives by taking them to His home
above. The curtain becomes darker; the
earth, once so beautiful, becomes desert,
and his sorrow is completed when his faith
full companion leaves him to join her little
ones in the celestial world. At night, when
the stars (glimpeses of the brightness be-
yond) steal forth, he thinks of his loved
ones-now holy, happy band, and wonders
If the union will ever be complete; if he too
will have place among the chosen ones of
God. He seeks religion as his only com
forter, and becomes possessor of the pearl
of great price, and when at last the gates of
the Celestial City are seen, bright and shin
ing in the distance, his heart rebounds with
indescribable joy. The end is almost here
only few more fleeing moments, and
the soul will have left its mortal tcuem emit to
become an angel of God. Whispers soft
and low float near, and as the sun of life
disappears below the horizon, the spirit is
borne away by myrads of angel forms, to
the Eden Of Rest. The web of life is com.
plete-and in its varied texture, we observe
the bright, golden tints harmonizing beau,i.
fully with the darker shades; so the joys
and SORROWS, the successes and reverses VIC
meet with in life, reflect upon each other,
modifying our happiness and 'essening oul
trials. BEATRICE.
Every man that trsnscends natures laws In
Youth ia taking ls.foreband those troasl,res TIM