The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1877-11-14
Life-Drearns.

Life Dreams.
LIFE, no matter in what aspect il
has been presented before us. when we
come to the reality, is full Of pitfalls
and entanglements into which our un-
wary feet often stumled. The actiyi-
ties and energies Of the soul NAV have
full scope, the spring Of eager prepare.
tions may wax into the summer Of no.
bic work, but when we have nearly
reached the apex we fall into the
snares which beset our way, and are
bruised and torn, hope, ambition and
desire being swallowed up in utter des-
pair. Daysafter day, as we watch the
different Vicissitudes of life, we are re-
minded of the frailty Of human hopes
and aspirations. AS the leaves of the
trees, once furnishing, once verdant,
lose their vitality, and finally waste
away so is it with our desires and an
ticipations. In youth we look forward
the future appears calm and tranquil,
but, as we approach manhood and wo-
manhood, life changes its appearance,
and becomes tempestuous and rough,
as the ocean changes before the com.
ing storm. 49,,
There have been times in the life of
every man. when he has been willing
to stake reputation, credit, all, on the
true friendship of some companion, but
he turns, to find his idol clay, the gold
bnt dross. Disappointment after disa-
pointment tends to make the heart
grow more and more bitter until he is
almost prepared to steel himself
against every inducement, until he is,
ready to exclainl-is >'any thing true?''
The hour-glass is truly emblemati-
cal of the world. AS its sands run out
at the termination of given period,
so it shows us that all things must
have an end; that man may devise, may
even execute, but ere long, that rest
less destroyer, Time, comes and mows
down all before him, and leaves naught
but wreck, a barren waste, Surely
all will give credence to this, who
watch the daily dying Of cherished
hopes, Of delightful anticipations.
The fame burns brightly at first, but
itsoon fuctuates, and finally dies with
out restriction.
There beats not heart but has
been darkened by sorrow; there
breathes not soul but has been tor
tured with anguish; honor and happi-
ness seem within the hold, and we look
back upon the narrow, sinuous, long
and dusty path BY which we have trav.
eled, and, as we stretch forth our hand
to grasp them, they flee away, and we
are left in the cave of utter hopeless.
ness and despair.
The human mind is strange COM
pound Of hope, despair, happiness, mis-
cry; to-day we are reveling in antici.
patton of the completion Of fostered
desires; to-day gigantic expectations
loom up before US; we look forward to
the morrow, which is to bring us a
great success, our soul, our mind is full
Of rapture; but, when the morrow
comes, and the wheel turns up blank,
what bitter, bitter dependency fills,
our hearts. Our aims, our plans lie
buried in the dust; we recall them, but
the remembrance is attended with
poignant anguish the world knows not
Of, cares not for our loss. We take up
the burden Of life again, and struggle
on. The past is fixed, and from the
wisdom which its mistakes have be-
|quethed, we start afresh on the race.
Truly, this world is made up Of lights
and shadows, and in the lives of many
the shadows predominant.
M. D. III. GILBERT.