Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-26
@tiainal 2pettp,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer
Observation-Disclosures.
BY INGOMAR.
Life is but q f1eeting shadow,


Or link in chain of Time;
One end in cradle-one in grave
Buds, blooms, and then declines;
Declines like fading flowers or leaves
When their bright bloom has fled,
It's petals -wither-fade,
And lay them with the dead
The beach of Time Qike garden walks),
Is strewn with fallen leaves
From off the Tree of Life, and we
Like leaves, or scattered sheaves,
Will soon be shed, or gathered home,-
- We are not here to stay, --.. ..r. -. p.
We are, at best, but sojourners .i''s y .'
In tenements Of clay.
Weknow not how nor whence we came,
Nor whittier we will go;
How brief or long our stay may be,
And shadows ever throw
Themselves across our path in life,- ,s.--.
- Life is sterious-dark,- z F;
For tho elive, we cannot tell
From whence the vital spark.
If, as some say, when life is DER
There are no joys nor ills,
That future state is but dream,
That death forever stills,
What mean the longings of the heart
Of all of mortal race ---.s.5s
What e'er their country, race, ,or creed),
TO reach heavenly place?
q since lln9 rOCateQ OIL us WHEEL, ... .
In every cline and age, .r.... -: ,.:--. .
Sweet hopes and longings, doubts and fears
Make up of life the page
That's stamped upon the hearts Of ALL
All long for bliss and Joy .Hn,'
In fields Elysian, Paradise,
Or home beyond the sky.
If life be quenched like fallen star, To-. H..
And after death is gloom, .'.'..
Why should mankind a sad pleasure take
In ling ring round a tomb
That nothing holds but ashes-clay?
., Why do they%teach and believe, t-.|'
That death is but halfway house
That souls forever live?
: What instinct plants in soul of man '.'''
A belief i'm future state2 '.'..''t .r.
Or is it not the voice Of God - .'.:.'-
That makes man feel elate '. :.,'''I'.
To think that those who've gone before
Are now at peace and rest, ."'
Where peace and Joy forever reigns-
Where they are ever blest?
The history of all ages prove ..
: J! That Pagan, Christian, Jew, n=I.itia;
Alike believe in future state
Denyers are but few;
And those same few-the Infidels,-
Who rave and pirate bout Reason,
For differing with mankind at large
Can they assign reason 2
Is man in every age Ounce?
Or is he knave or fool,
That he should fast, and pray, and weep
Upon repentance stool,
If in his heart he really felt
That future state was not?
If he believed that after death
Like fallen tree he'd rot? .
Forbid it reason Reason does
Revolt at such construction
Of promptings of the heart Of man.
'Twould lead but to destruction;
For if man felt that after death
Existence there was none,
Think you the poor (who millions are),
Would suffer, toll and groan?
Think you they d groan meath trials sore,--
. That they would hungry CO..
If in their hearts they did not feel
There was both joy and woe
In mystic land beyond the grave?
They'd like distinctions Bosom
Sweep from the rich their boarded wealth.
'Twould be dictates of reason.
Does Reason teach that it is wise
To throw into disuse
The teachings of all ages-climes,-
And mans worst passions loose
From all restraints of order--law?
What safeguards would there be?
Society would melt away
And man a beast would be.
And thus the ranting Infidels
Who rave and pirate bout Reason,
Are shewn as enemies of man;
Their teachings are rank treason
Against the laws of God and man:
They seek but to degrade
When they would quench the light of Hope
That shines from out the Shade
So let us hold to future state,
'Tis safest, wisest, best;
And tits consolation sweet
To dream that we shall RI 1t
Throughout the long eternuy,
When life's career is DER,
In land of fadeless joy and bliss
On the bright heavenly shore.
Of our volition we came not;
We're moved by unknown force;
We call that force, or essence, God;
So let us guide our course
That He no blame will find in us;
Let's heed the laws He's given,
And when our race on earth is run
Well reign with Him in Heaven.