Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-10-10
For The Fayetteville Observer.
Dreams Of Yesterday.
BY MAURICE CARLYLE.

/
over the ruins Of the decayine
dam. Long dropping willows
kissed the dancing water. WilC
flowers Of many kinds grew al
most to the waters edge. The
sun slowly sinking to rest tinged
everything with dim golden
light. Then the noble woman
that stood by my side, how bel
color came and went as she would
discover some new enchantment
to the scene. The scene gained
new beauty from her presence.
had known her from boy hood
and had always regarded her as a
pure and noble woman, yet | had
never once thought of her only as
n friend or sister. But on this
evening surrounded by this lovely
scenery, with her hat thrown
back and her golden curls famed
by the summer zephyrs, she was
beautiful. We were conversing
on that old yet ever new theme
of human life. She said that the
world did not owe any man liv.
ing, and that it was every man s
duty to be a producer as we'll as a
consumer in the broad field of
life. laughed at her enthusiasm
and desired to know why | should
wear myself away in the tread
mill of labor, and what aim ]
should strive TO accomplish. ]
certainly should not strive for
wealth, for was / not already
wealthy Not for fame or honor,
because as Dryden has truly said.
"Honor is an empty bubble" and
if it be an empty bubble, it must
burst sooner or later. Why should
| spend my life toilipg up the
"Steeps of Fame" over a rugged
and rough pathway, overgrown
with briers and brambles and a
long which few flowers grow in
search of o bubble. / would be
maligned aud abused while living
and the arrows Of envy and malice
hurled at me from all sides by
relentless hands. My name be
covered with cnlumny and re-
proaches. And if the world hon.
ored me not when living, it mat
ters little what is thought of me
after the cares and tolls of life ale
over and I am sleeping beneath the
daisied sod. As for any spirit of
philanthropy which might induce
me to devote my life in making
others happy, bah No, | will
never do that-a merry life for
me. Pleasure should tie the only
mistress | would serve.
"Oh, Maurice" she replied, 81
am truly sorry to hear you speak
in that manner. You should re
member that much shall be ex-
pected Of him TO whom much is
given. Honor is not an empty
bubble, for it is glorious to make
such lasting impression upon the
world that we shall live in the
memory Of man long after we
have passed away and our todies
have mouldered. Many men
have toiled up the rugged bill and
have become forever honored. in
dwellers of that glorious Temple.
They surmounted all obstacles,
why may not you? You have ge.
Mus, you have thorough and fn
shed education, and if you will on
y use energy as maliet, you can
produce any impression upon the
world you desire. You have
wealth now, have you any certain-
y that you will always have it?
You may yet be thrown for SYM
1athy upon a cold and unsympathi.
ing world and you will feel the
'slings and arrows of outrageous
ortune," but adversely mellows
he soul and makes US nobler and
better Yet remember "shrouds
lave no pockets, and you can not
,ave your way TO heaven with
sold. You were not placed here
o dream your life away, but to
work; and if as Longtellow says
One halt of the world must sweat
Ind groan in order that the other
lalf may Dream" are you content
o be a dreamer Oh, Maurice. |
'e a man Z! cease to dwell In an !.
leal world and dwell in the living
resent; endeavor to discharge |,
our whole duty toward yourself,
our country and your God.
,triva IN b,,iid nm snch a eharoo-