The Oxford falcon., 1871-10-27

eyos OF cause his I'D 70 trem-
Bile as memory transports him
to the days of long ago. ~
him, indeed, "home is merely
four square walls"
Such natures, no doubt,
pass through the world with
much comfort to themselves.
having no needs, save thosn
which can be met, no spiritu>
al longings to prey upon their
frames of coarse clay."
But it IL not 10 such that
we refer. when We say that
the brightness OF their lives
seems someticms so obscuresl,
as almost to render existonce q
matter Of indifference TO them.
1t is to those. who. cast IN
pure mould, and reared amid
the most refined and eleva-
ting influence are sometimes.
even in the incipiency OF ma
turo years, separated by AL,
verse circumstances from ear
licr ties, and bound by asla-
mantine links TO uncongenial
associations. Declared all ex.
ercise of the tastes and talents
carefully and fondly cultivated
in childhood and youth, their
better nature obscured, their
aspirations for high aud noble
things mercilessly crushed
and blightedl surrounded by
influences withering as tho
atmosphere of the fatal upas.
the future giving no token of
respite. with hidden longings
that wear away tho outward
frame-it would require extra
ordinary strength of charac-
ter to prevent such finely or
ganized. highly strung na-
lures from giving way under
the dreadful pressure and sink.
Ing into a state of despair.
Could the lives of some,
with whom we have frequent
social intercourse. be as an
"open book" to us, we would
be surprised at the record of
suffering that is often enclos-
ed within what would seem
the happiest existence, and
we would wonder at the sereni.
u of their deIneanor and mar
vel at even the shadow of q
smile.
Yet VIC can suffer thus and
still live on Yes, live and
conceal the anguish of the
heart beneath the mockery OF
q smile.
''rls mot the smile, whose magic
light
Diftse= DER the tufored face,
That proves the heart still young
and bright
Or marks enjoyment's dwelling.
place
May be the echo rom n1s's ca~e,
Where blooming hopes in dull decay
Have found u rude, untimely
grave"
The world may never know,
may never suspect, that az nn-
der-current, deep and strong,
flows and surges far down be-
meath the surface of a nature
to the unobseryant or unap-
preciative apparently inert
and commonplace-may never
dream how glowing the fancy,
how rich and abundant tho
treasures of thought and feel
ing, (needing only to be called
into action by an appreciatiye
mind), that lie hidden in tho
depths Of that seemingly list
less soul.
Over such it is that tho
hour of impenetrable sorrow
and despair sometimes holds
dominion and were it not
that such natures, loving that
which is pure, aspiring TO that
which is eleyating, aud yearn-
ing for happiness which none
of their surroundings can af-
ford, turn instinctively to-
wards the source of all that is
exalted, beautiful and true,
reason might be dethroned,
and the too great tension
upon the cords OF a sensitive
heart constantly vibrating to
an unco0genial touch, cause
them TO give way. But il .
in such an hour rs this, WHEN
driven TO the last extremity,
that the truths of religion
stand forth beautiful aud
bright as heavens myriad
stars in the darkness of night,
more brilliant, more allaring
from contrast with the sur
rounding gloom, glittering
omens of satisfied yearnings
and desires fulfilled in that
heavenly home TO which We
are fastening. Bows Of prom
isespanning with radiant hucs
the storm clouds of life. and
pointing to tho land Of
a bright frnition' beyond,
where every pure aud holy
aspiration shall be more than
realized. and every thought,
desire and emotion having
eliminated, our barren hearts
shall bloom into joyful wilder
nesses, and with kindred
spirits VIC shall have eyerlast-
inr Omls.uiUushiW.