The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-08-01
MISCELLANY.
For THE RECORD.
THE TWO PATHS.

One beautiful morning, when all nature was
robed with beauty and gladness, two youths
left their home, to seek in the distant future,
which cleaned so brightly before them, as it
" lay bathed in the sunlight Of love and
hope,n their fortune. Both were young
both were filed with all the fire and energy
of youth. They thought as they left home
and friends behind them, that never had such
q lovely morning dawned upon the earth be-
fore. The sun was just up, and the golden
light flooded the beautiful woods and vine
clad hills The river that swept around the
hills lay cleaning like thread of silver, in
the gIittering sunshine. The Summer flow
ers were glowing in all their beauty--laden
with dew, and every hillside aud valley every
limpid stream and grassy dell, were glowing
and throbbing with sparkling living life. As
they walked along they conversed about what
they would do, when they reached the end OF
their Journey. Not a cloud dimmed the sky
bending above them all was bright and Sc
rene. The sun had passed but little way
across the heavens, the dew had not left the
flowers, the birds had scarcely ceased their
morning songs, when they came to where two
roads met, both side by side, but wearing an
entirely different appearance. One was broad
with wide gate, while the other was mar
row-with straight gate. The road on which
they had been walking ended here, and they
stopped, wondering which path would take
them to the eud of their journey. From where
they stood the broad road looked the most
pleasant but then, the narrow way had a
quiet, peaceful look, as If there might be some
pleasant spots, --some resting places. While
they were hesitating and talking, suddenly
there appeared before them bright form,
clothed In beautiful garments. Why stand
ye here, oh youth? The broad road leads
to death and utter destruction, while the mar
row road leads to happiness and everlasting
Joy" Before they had recovered from their
establishment the bright one had disappeared
from their view. AS they looked again at the
roads before them, they saw that in the broad
road were many beautiful forms Of lovely be-
ings, fitting about among the beautiful flow
ers that were glowing in the bright glittering
sunshine. The air was thrilled with the mu-
sic of countless birds, as they fitted lightly
from side to side butter flies, and tempting
fruits were seen sweet music stole softly to
their ears and the dancing and mrth before
them, charmed their senses (; many walked
therein. The narrow road, in contrast SEEM
cd lonely and dark (; only few were walking
therein. But then, the words OF warning
which they had heard the broad road though
seemingly SO bright, led to destruction, while
the narrow road lead to joy and everlasting
happiness. One youth believed, and turned
his face toward the strait gate while the 9TH
er entered into the wide gate and started
down the broad road. For while he was en-
chanted with all the beauty and wonderful
fascination around him. But the sun, as 1t
arose higher and higher 10 the heavens, threw
its rays with scorching heat upon him. He
pIucked some Of the roses, but the thorns
pierced his hands. He plucked some Of the
rare fruits, but they only turned to ashes In
his grasp. Now and then a serpent crawled
through his pathway. He Joined the dancers.
but there he found envy, bitterness, heart
burnings The music had many discord,
and where he expected to find happiness and
joy, he found only misery and sorrow. Once,
as he walked along, he saw in the distance,
keeping 10 the straight and narrow road, his
friend, his late companion. A longing desire
to join him swept over him. He could see
an opening between the two paths where he
might pass through. But while he hestated,
some sense Of pleasure came before him, and
the longing passed away, and the image Of his
friend was lost to view. But before he was
aware Of 1t, mighty storm came upon the
! land tho lightning flashed, and the thunders
roared the people that constructed the road
had forgotten or neglected to build any places
\ Of shelter and he had to bear the storm in
all its fury. When 1t passed away, desire
once more came over him to join his friend
but he could not find the way. The path