The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-08-21
NEWBERRY, S. c., THURSDAY, AUGUST 2l, 1884.

patch informing him that hi: tr, ops
in Spain had been badly beaten 1t Sal
manca. Immediately singular change
passed over him. In that disaster he
SAW the index finger of fate pointing
to his final over hroy, and he was
troubled. lie retire to his couch,
but could not sleep. He arose, talked
incoherently, ordered three days ra-
tons to be distributed among his
guard ut midnight, and seemed to be
CONSUMING with fever OF MUD and
body. The next day he was irresolutc,
ill-!IumoTed. and inferior to himself on
the field OF battle. In fact the news
from Salamanca overwhelmed him,
and with all his strength OF mind lie
staggered beneath it like drunken
man. 1t l supposed drove him TO the
brink OF insanity. He showed very
similar confusion Of mind in the hours
which preceded his ablicatiOn. and
when his power was finally taken from
him his great heart grew sick, and on
that sea-girt rock where British cau-
ton confined him, he pined away and
died, as much OF a broken heart, As OF
tie diseases which preyed upon his
wel!-knit frame. Ii therefore the
strength Of this gigantic soul, and OF
those loftly-mindcd merchants was
insufficient for theirsupport in the great
emergencies OF their lives, what can
You expect buc to be crushed beneath
your sorrows If you dare to confront
them without the aid of God. Perhaps
you think that the sympathy Of friends
will give courage to your hours OF ca
lanlity. But are you sure that adVer-
sity will not prove an enchanter's
wand and transform your friends into
strangers. Is it not possible that as
the prodigal was abandoned i'll his hour
OF misfortune by those who smiled on
him in his plenty, so you may be tor-
sakcn by those who now profess un-
dying attachment to You. The false
hood OF friendship is proyerbial, and
when the shadows Of great trials
darken your path, it may be your lot
TO meet that weary, wondering, dis
avowing look, which prosperous sell
fiShness knows bat too we'll how to
give those whose fallen fortunes rem
der their friendship 10 longer desira-
BILE. In that case the staff on which
You lean will become a serpent to
wound your hand and send its poison
with throbs of agony into your burst
ing heart, and you may persuade your
self that your friends are true and
will not so forsake you in your trou-
bles. Perhaps they are, and yet it
may be they arc not. But admit them
to be to You as was Damon to Pythias,
or as Jonathan to David, how know
you that they will live until the dark
days of your adversely begin, or il they
live how assure yourself that they too
will rot be as deeply immersed i'll the
sea of trouble as yourself? &? Are they
not the children Of mortality? Is not
their prosperity rs uncertain rs your
own? How then can you wisely lean
on human friendship 10 sustain yon in
the day OF your great need? Wouid
you advise lame man to lean on a
reed? Would you venture 10 cross Il
storm-swept lake in a boat OF gosSa-
mer Why then do you do what is
equally foolish-rely on human friends
whose lives are but as vapor, who with
er like grass and fade like flowers !?
Remember, my friend, the Creator OF
all men has sIid "CurSed be the man
who erusteth in man and maketh flesh
his arm, and whose heart departeth
from the Lord --.- ..--.
If it should be your lot TO be be-
reayed, as many are, or friends,
lovers and relatives, to whom will
you look for consolation Death
sometimes enters mans social circle
as the woodman does his field, cutting
down every ancient tree and tender
sapplinq. and leaves him like a solitary
tree to cast his companionle$s shadow
across the silent scene.
ANDREW J.