Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-06-11

may be written in the most cor
rect manner, letters most beau
tifully formed, their form being
made visible by an unchanging
color. But either pure or i'm
pure, ink thus used demon
strates its mission. 1t tells
of the useful invention man
made when he searched out
this means Of communication.
In the first instance it shows
his imperfections, his great in
clination to deceive and sell his
honor for worldly jewels, while
in the second it shows that there
are powers and principles in
his nature, and that he has la
bored and labored not in vain.
The writings of an individ-
ual picture the character most
wildly. If they appear as hav-
ing been done hastily and care
lessly, they present character
indifferent to interest or Ieputa-
ton and regardless of what is
good and true; if stained with
blots they show forth a charac-
ter all stained by sin. Oh, the
carefully written page. Read
tit tells of a high toned char
acter, of a pure motive, an hon
est heart, Of a life as God would
have it.
In the course Of education,
that which is most essential to
improve the intellect is often
neglected; this renders the mind
unfit to accomplish any useful
object. The will may be good
and the heart honest, yet no
lasting impression can be made.
The act itself may be correct,
but the cause being impure the
results will be impure, and by
coming in contact with good
works disappears into an al
most nOthingncss, yet it leaves
it's traces and renders the mind
which receives its impression
incapable of producing any
righteous works. Such an unim-
proved mind with dishonest
purposes and a slothful will
leaves a history the vilest being
should blush to own. The er-
rors even in attempting to do
right, the weak impression Of
the uncultivated intellect, the
low crimes Of rCcklessncss tell
Of life which has failed to ac-i
complish the designs Of Heav-
en-. Again the mind may be
perfect in point of education
lack nothing which renders it
competent to answer the highest
calling, but if the heart be un-
clean the character will be
stained with the deepest vices
which eternity itself can never
blot out, for great intellects
WELD powerful influences and
produce lasting results. Let
the sin assume whatever shape
it may, it will outshine the stars
that bedeck the great blue dome
above. 1t may be covered over
by worldly greatness but not
concealed, may be followed by
heavenly works but not purified.
But when wisdom comes to the
aid of knowledge the two
blended together produce a
page bright with golden char
acters, which will continue to
shine brighter and brighter
throughout time, and then be
transferred to and form a glow
ing chapter in the great record
above.
Oh how many histories are
being written without thought
and without care, pens picked
up wherever found, dipped into
the hearts ink and used without
viewing the consequence. The
roaming youth often reclines
himself against the body of a
great tree and carves his name
within its rough surface. Read
it, yet passers by; it tells the
height of his ambition and the
degree of his energy. He is
unaware that as he treads this
old time worn earth his better
nature is rowing the forests be-
yond the grand river, and there
cutting deep the same charac-
ters that he trusts to the decay
ing wood Of time. The strong
heart often muses. upon some
beautiful writing which it SEEM
ingly loves to read and read a.
gain, reveling in the delights
of its power over one so sub
missive. How lovely this deli
cate leaf appears, of the most
refined and modest hue. 1t
glows at the expense of another
happiness, it was written with
the pen of fiattery dipped into
4hn nj &C O lnuolu and SnhnniS-