The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-09-29

must be temperate.
1t is difficult to find perfection Even such
simple matter as one who can hold his or
her tongue, and mind his or her business, is
not found oftener than once in life time
| Miss Mary found defects, unforgiveable de-
fects, in every beau she had ever had. That
she submitted to their attentions at all was
not from affection toward them, but merely
because young lady, with feminine insticts,
she liked to have a beau around even if she
did not love him; and, secondly, being a
young lady with tender heart, she hated to
tell the young man to go about his business
Many came counting. All passed. This
new beau would probably prove defective al
So Yet it was pleasant thus to have stran-
gers attentions. Strange that man never
gets tired of himself, no matter how much
others may dislike him! Some, [ think,
take or find pleasure in being disIiked. I
can upon no other supposition account for
their persevering disagreeablcness
Walter White was not handsome man.
On the contrary, beside natural bad looks,
his face was frightfully SCARED. While in
the army, one night, being drunk, he rolled
Oft wagon under the horses feet, and was
marked for life. He was not accustomed to
speak OF the manner of his accident Being
in the army, it was naturally supposed he was
wounded while doing service for his country.
This idea covered all defects. Besides, since
his wound looked SO bad, it was concluded
he had been passably good looking, if not
positively handsome, before that "stick of
wood blew up" But he was smart enough
to make up for hundred faults of face. If
was as. smart as my hero [ would explain
his talents-but | do not wish to expose my
ignorance by making the attempt
Still we must report their conversation.
"Why is it,, questions Miss Mary looking
sadly towards the dying tints of the western
sky, ''that all our hopes and aspirations seem
given to us but to lead us into vain pursuits,
and leave us to perish without succor? How
seldom does strict honesty succeed How
few children arc a comfort to their parents !!
How rarely is the good we intend accomplish
ed One in her moments of darkness would
almost fancy an evil spirit held dominion over
the hearts of human beings, and beguilcd
them only to destroy"
Truly" replied her companion, gently
'the lower success Of this world seems TO
conflict with the higher purposes Most men
could become rich only by narrowing them
selves to sordid base Of action. Some few
men are born with no more faculties than
they need to amass money. gain fame. Or stand
prominently before men as the embodiment of
some idea But I think the mass of men
cannot be satisfied with earthly success
"But what else should we ask for Why
is it that the heart so longs for earthly gain
DO you believe it an evil desire-the result of
an evil principle? will not say the devil,
though some teach SO, but | say an evil in
stinct."
ut is point we cannot settle for all minds.
70 me all things appear good; but, as Goethe
says, we must renouuce one good for another
What we lack is compensated for by talent.
In art We see this strongly illustrated"
'Ah! there is another thing: Why is it
that those who take most delight in pictures
cannot produce them? Why are such de-
sires given, not to be gratifed ?"
They are given to be gratifcd An artist,
however, even as he narrows nature to Che re
quirements Of art, is himself narrowed to the
observation Of but one phase of nature. Ma
ture is infinite, but a man comes with Il pecu-
lldl HAUL VI uliuu W lCplUuuCC UuC tOuc Oub
of the millions, and we call him man of &C.
MUS. Nothing is so wonderful as Shakspeare's
power of generalizing all words and persons,
and yet displaying the individual. You can
philosophize upon man almost as safely from
his plays as from life"
How do you mean 2"
"Why, you must have noticed that men
ell their place by an instructive ftuess for
their work. One writes. Que talks, one bar
tiers. Each has defects which fits him for his
position. lie cant cultivate himself beyond
certain degree; can polish his powers, but
not create"
"You narrow life. believe In all men
and all women becoming perfect I think it
possible. But what do you think was Shak-
speare's intention in taking types instead of
Individuals p
"Mercly from the pleasure philosophic
mind takes in founding its conceptions on a
deep truth"
II never thought of all this before. How
I wish [ had some Que with me always to
show me what wisdom lies hidden in lite and
books l pass unheeding."
When Walter, slipping his arm caressingly
about her slender waist, thus tenderly address
cd her:
"There must come the feeling of the want
before it can be supplied. Nature always
leads longing to fulflment: it is the test Of
the right to possess to be willing to give the
labor for the object. The gods sell all things
at fair price,
Then, still lower:
"Mary, l love you I heard YOU were a
firt, but knew better. l knew you only
waited for man of ability to approach you.
feel you perceive that had but cash cap
liza! of ten tn ousand dollars could give you
everything your heart could desire. Would
this not be better than living on the pitiablc
interest the banks allow? Why, mans
ability to use money is worth double what the
banks pay. Think how happy you will make
me to be able to so benefit you"
Mary's head sank lower She yielded to
his gentle embrace. She felt that far better
would be her ten thousand, invested in bust
ness by kind husband than rented out to
mercenary officials. Then and there did she
let him feel that, in the course of time, if
nothing untoward happened and if she did
not see anybody she liked better, and if he
proved himself capable Of using the money to
the best advantage and would explain all his
hopes and plans to her. she might come to care
for him sufficiently we'll 10 consent to be
cupportod ~ pie Nv nancn yrov;JoJ bo L.d