Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-01-11
tFor The Beacon.)
what vas Seen on Eeu Tears Eve.

Il Was the last miKht of the Old Year.
! was fired and III II ease. Masters bad
net gone .smsotkIy, - / vent to my
room ii IN early hour and seating my
self before the FIRE was soon lost ihspec-
uIaiions as 10 why this affair did not suc-
coed. why that plan fell thseugh and
the why's Of all the other et eeferas that
stood grinning u me, marked with the
blightirg word-fsicd. OF course, |
was mad, sad. gloomy, in . word. out
Of Kumor. Memory and Imagination
were IN hague against me. The former
made me endure the torsures Of Tsnta-
Ius, the latter lashed me with scorpion
whips. I was truly ? selftortssed OBJ
ject. At Last nature got rebellivus, in
sisted on repose a. she had been robbed
of her quota the few preceding nights.
and despite my efforts ] dozed and bad
q dream, . marvellous dream.
Alone aaf detected ! sat in my Office
with beck in my hand, my thoughts
cen4ese9 on part Of the past, recalied
BY these lines Just read,
ssTo aisi ct thine own happiness IL an end, Idol
atrous and evil,
In earth, yea IN heaven, II thou seek Il Tor my
self. seeking thou shalt not find;
Happinessis . roadside flower, growing On the
Highways Of usefulness,
PIueked, Il shsil wither in thy hand; passed BY,
IT'S fragrance 70 my spirit
. be useful and be happy" I'll
Pshaw I murmured TO myself,
"nonsense all this about industry and
usefulness bringing happiness. My own
life is contradiction"
"Nay, q verifcation that "a mans
works make or mar him." muttered
voice that chilled me and turning ]
beheld queer specimen of humanity,
mere pigmy. A moment there was ST.
lence and then he said, "Tom me n given
the power to read the Thoughts Of man,
10 remember the gains and losses in the
chess-game Of life. Wouldst thou read
the chequered story Of lifei Per-
chance il will benefit thee. Look" !.
Iraised my head, darkness as pail
hung over the room, then suddenly
moonlight, like radiance, revealed in
succession the following pictures: J.
A form in the morning Of life, his
soul expanding with infinite desires and
eyes bright with expectation looking
afar across the mighty ocean near which
he stood ready to embark in the little
skiff that rose and fell on the breast of
the waves.
Oaly moment and il psssed-then
I saw the same youth standing in the
boat as if already weary Of The journey.
Hope and Fear sat at the helm, Ambi-
ton and Destiny pointed onward. and
the youth was powerless.
Again saw him-thc Eldorado was
reached-youth had merged into matu-
rity-Experience had traced some lines
on brow and cheek, the smile was tinged
with sadness. Ambition and Despon-
dency disputed the throne.
Another vision succeeded. The man
stood alone on an island, bright flowers
bloomed here and there and as the winds
Of Circumstance toyed with the leaves,
thorns and serpent heads were revealed.
Moody and silent be stood. then walked,
then stopped. swayed alternately by
Resolution and Fickleness. Ittoo passed
away and came another.
Out under the roses in the soft moon
light stood man and a maiden--a dewy
splendoS beamed in her soft eyes, the
rose Of happiness glowing on her
cheeks" for to her ears had been
breathed the old, old story and her pure
heart revelled in her FIRST love dream.
Tenderly he looked on her, the lines of
care were gone from his face, lost in
the beauty Of satisfied Desire. Of Love
requited. In her hand she held scroll
and on il were inscribed these words
"For the story OF neglect Is in fhis,-ihat such
rs we are all forget US,
That men and women, kith and kin, % lightly
heed Of other:
Sympathy Is lacking from the guilty such as we,
even where angels minister,
And souls OF fne accord mist prize q FELLOWSHIP
ner's love;
For the most, love those who love them, and the
best, claim heart for heart,
And IL Is holy thing TO long for loves requital
Hard IL viii be, hard and sad, TO love and be un-
loved,
And many a thorn Is thrust in the side Of him
that Is forgotten.
The oppressive silence Of reserve, the frost offail
ing friendship, \
Affection blighied By repulse, or chilled By shall
low courtesy,
The uaaided struggle, the unconsidcrcd gfief,
the unesteemed selfsacriice,
The gin, dear evidence Of kindness, long due.
but never offered,
The glance estraEgcd, the letter flung aside, the
greeting III received,
The services oE unobtusive care unthanked, per-
chance undecided,
These things which hard men mock at, rend the
feelings Of the tender.
For the delicate tissue Of spiritual mind Is torn
hy these sharp harris,
The GOODNESS Of q trusted friend, plenitude end
ing In vacuity,
IL as If The stable world had burst hollow
bnhble.''
n