Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-07-09

I wak'd and found that Life was duty.p
Life seem'd so true, SO beautiful, so bright,
| needed not OF death, or change, or blight,
Its ev'ry joy was pure as Springs first fow'rs,
It's tears, as fitting as young Aprips show'rs.
The Past was soften'd meath rosy haze,
Which only Mem'ry's fairy wand could rase
With blue-eyed hopes and dreams the Future
teemd, R 90 h3sssa1taag aer
And in sheen of far-off glory gleamd
The Present was as cloudless as the skies
Which over fam Italia,s hill-tops rise;
It's roses were all thornless, fragrant, fair
AS those which breathe on Cashmere balmy
air; aaEfa SCI E-.ss F91
It's sunlight golden as the rays which shine
O'er purple vineyards on the classic Rhine.
In all things Beauty lurk' d, o. er hill and dale
O'er sunny slope, FER -besprinkPd d vale,
Der mountain ran ges, capp' d in azure blue,
Ger tow ring peaks, O. er plains of EN- raid hue
Der mighty waters rushing grand and free,
Yer streams as calm as maidens' hearts shoald
be-
Nature, with lavish hand her gems bestow'd,
And all her works with Eden's fairness glow'd.
Art, too, and science help'd to make Life fair,
With works of grand old Masters, paintings
rare, 9@#
Sculpture, and gems of thought in books stor
way, a st4 e1
To hold the mind enraptur'd d meath their SWAY.
And Music brought her need, and Poesie,
To raise the soul, and set Gag fancy free
And Friendship SEEM pure gold without alloy
And Love. the crown-pearl bright of ev'ry joy
Oh was it strange that Life should only seem
AS beautiful, as cloudless as dream rs
n u ~
Life is not now so beautiful, so bright,
'Tis chequer'd DER with death, and change, and
blight, aue2 q gaa l'Il
Its Spring-fow'r joys are dead their bloom wa
brief ar
Faded, the rosy veil O er by-gone years
The Present dims the Future sheen with tears
With low ring clouds are overcast the skies,
And seldom 'bows of promise through them
rise.
To dust and ashes blushing roses fall,
Their fragrance turn to wormWood and to gall
The sunlight sickens, dies beneath the crash
Of troubles bolt and deaths electric flash.
The earthquakes shock" the molten lava
stream of 3a. 0He shaaIs
The blasted oak, the yawning cavern's seam,
Are signs, the right Gus, but avenging, God
Would brand zen Natures front with tIcha-
bod" K 91s Iaoerd5Is1
And books, and music often make thought flow
Into the dreamy realms of s'Ilong-ago." -
Old mem ries, faces, Words and tones crowd fas
To haunt us with the pale ghosts of the Past;
And hopes seem fitting as the mists of morn,
We clutch them eagerly, to find them gone.
Anticipation, eagle-like. scars high,
And gazes on the sun with steady eye;
Its plumage droops its wings refuse to fly,
Shot down by bitter, stern Reality
And friends levelVe round Tickle Fortunes
Wheel ,E4.Fsi.rrse as,sU ~ q
Too oft, when needed most, their loss we feel
And Love proves frail as threads the spider
weaves
Around the vestal llys pearly leaves.
All truly, "Life is but an empty draaml'
And oft we find things are not what they
SEEM" -.a-s
Life a0iU be true, and beautiful, and bright,
Therell be an end to death and change and
blight. atn ~
Soon, buds of joy and hope will ne er decay,
And tears shall be forever wip'd away.
The Future and the Past absorb'd will be
In the glorious Now, Reality.
The bright and morning Star" will light the
u sky,
The Sun of right ousness's refulgent beam
Shall O er Life immortal ever gleam.
All clouds of doubt forever pass away
Into the endless, perfect light Of day,
And Mary's Son, the Christ once crucifed,
Who now at Gods right hand sits glorifed,
Hath prons5s'd we shall each an entrance gain
Into these realms of bliss, and with him reign,
If patiently submissively we bend o
Unto his will, whatever he may send
Let Faith meier wans; 10 ell things Mercy see,
Though Marah's many, Films few there be.
The pilgrims garb and staff here meekly bear,
Remembering the "harp' and raiment fair,
Take up the Gross, nor everl lay it down
Till shall be won the Victor promised crown.
Since all will be thus beautiful, thus true,
Brothersl Sisters! oh keep the good in view
To reap the Life Of Beauty, fadelsss sure,
Make this Life of Duty, earnest, pure.
M. G. P.