West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-11-21
Cultivating Youthful Virtues.

III we would wear youth In our faces
late in life, we must carry IL Also late I'm
life in our hearts In other words, we
must cultivate the youthful virtues,
most important among which are un-
worldhness. aflecionatenesS and purity
of heart.
Note thoughtfully those individuals
in whom "a predominant passion for
obtaining the good things of lifcN (as
Webster defines worldlincsS) prevails,
.and see how hardened and unbcau-
tiying a trait il is-how like with
cred leaf becomes the heart which
worldliness controls. Wrapped In the
Icy atmosphere OF its own ambitions
and pursuits, how self-absorbcd and
callous, how coldly unrcsponsive to all
demands of human sympathy or
pity il becomes. And not only does
such n one dcfraud himself largely Of
the love and sympathy of his kind, but
hc also loses, through having lost bv
worldliness his capacity for cnioving.
the delight which nature To the un-
worldly yields. What To him is the
freshness of the spring time. the bloom
and fragrance of summer, the glory and
richness of autumn, the glittcring ma
je>ty of winterP Neither the dcwy
sweetness of the morning nor the calm
grandeur Of the starry night has power
To win his soul from its earthly throne.
For him the tender sunshine has no
balm, the murmur of the summer breeze
no voice. He walks, day after day and
year after year, amid beautiful sights
and scents and sounds, but they wakcn
no melody, they stir no rapture in his
breast The fountain of Youthful en-
thusiasm, of unworldly delight, is
dried up.
And rs the spirit little by little, from
the predominant love, takes permanent
form within, so also the lines OF the
face take on the colorS of the soul
Pinched and sharpened features; cold,
greedy INSCRIPTIONS, Yet shallow
eyes; hard, unsympathctic, calculating
mouth-theso arc the lineaments
which such men and women must
consent 10 wear
In love, we find the very fountain
OF immortal youth. Yet how many
miss of it, nouriShing envy. jealousy,
hatred, or at best n cold indilcrcncel
How many, whose lives love might
ennoblc and bless, barter ii OF for un-
satisfying dross! How many woman,
marrying for worldly motives, sells
her precious birthright-t incsti-
mable bliss of loving for mess of
pottage! Nor need she expect TO es-
cape the penalty. Her heart, deprived
OF its needed aliment, must famsh and
pine, her cheek wither and grow pale,
her blood become weak and sluggish,
or feyerish and impure, from the un-
joyfulncss and unholiness OF the bond
she wears. Turn from this picture to
that home wherein love reigns tri-
umphant queen. List to the bounding
step; look al the glowing cheek, the
sparkling eye! Love ourshes; love
cheers. Cares may be heavy, but love
renders them light Misfortunes may
befall, but love helps TO endure. Sor-
rows may saddcn, but so long as love
fingers. they can be borne. Man also,
as well as woman, suffers from these
inharmonious relations. His life being
less introvcrted and intense, more am d
outside influences, he does not so NOR
bidly feed upon mis- own heart, vet he
also misses the bliss OF loving and be ng
loved.
Mother love also is great bcautiicr
Let not the young and thOuVhtloss
wife, congratulating herself on her cx-
emption from the pains and cares Of
maternity, hatter herself hat she shal!
lloat down tho stream OF time wearing
more youth and beauty on on her brow
than that paler matron with the baby
at her breast. Let her be assured
that the patience, the devotion the un-
seliishness which motherhood develops.
outwcighs the cares and pains which il
entails, while an interest in those eager
lives growing up at her side, serves TO
keep the mothers intellect awake. her
sympathies keen, and her heart her lin
and her eye ever tender and beautiful
and young.
But most sorrowiully contrasting
with the sweet loyclncss of childhood,
is that old arc i'm which passing years
have left purity Of heart behind This
cOnd ton Of The life loavcs also its i'm.
press upon the eternal form, disclos-
ing itself in the turbid eve, the shifting
glance, the hollow-ringing fictitious.
cOncealing voice worse blemishes than
furrowcd check, gray hair or wasted
form.
To miss the prcttincss and bloom of
youth may be painful; TO mss its
strength and yigor trying; TO miss its
hopefulnoss and cheerful outlook. dis
heartening; 10 miss its aGccliOnateness.
both in receiving and giving. sldden-
ing; but 90 miss its innocence, is to miss
honor, tranquility sclf-respcct. and tho
comfort Of the assurances "Blessed are
the pure in heart, Tor they shall sec
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