The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-01
Our @liu.
THE PAST.
A Sympathetic Echo to "MemOry."
Written for the Democratic AdUocate,
ny THE AUTHOR OF REMEMBRANcEs.
THE PAST.

Who does not cling to the past-to the
days when we were what we are no longeri
"Who, that has taken weary steps on the
great high road of mortality, does not love
to plunge beneath the lava and ashes Of
life's volcanic throes and disinter the buried
images of days when life was full of hope
when the most delusive dreams wore the
shape of reality ?"
All, turn ''page after page of the diary
of youth" by this means we seem to live
those days over again-precious to mem
ory-and we are all the better for re-
living them. Fain, fain would the soul
linger as we gaze back on the past; it seems
an amber-colored pathway where the sun
shone on beautiful flowers, and the stars
hung glittering overhead No thorns are
remembered. If there were any shadows
they dissolve out of the violet mists of re-
membrance.
When the garlands of youth have faded
memory restores what years have stolen
And yet l sometimes think it is only fancy
that the past were happier than the present
Each evening we are one day nearer ouI
Fathers abode; and "we may be still nearer
than we think"
Let us strive to forget self, and warm
our hearts by generous acts and kind deeds
that life may be fairer, death happier, and
that we may meet where
sickness and sorrow. pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more"
"Life is indeed, often what we make it. ,
With full many it is struggle; when for
tune frowns on our best endeavors, and we
drink at sorrows fountain and the future
seems dark and utterly hopeless and dreary
Yet it's sweet to remember that through it
all, unseen angels are very near us; that we
are close by the confines of the mystic
land-so near that, like Robt. Dale Owen
we can almost hear the s'foot falls over the
boundary
Sorrows are in mercy sent, else we would
be content with earth and never wish to die
As the holly lights the wood with Grim
son tints which no frost can fade, SO viii
kind words and deeds cheer the lone,
stricken one, whose cloud is dark and its
ssilver lining" hidden.
There Is always some new delight, some
lovely accident as it were-or as we think
but thrown across our pathway to helI
us live more nobly. One day it may be 8
sunset to startle one into a real understand
ing of heaven; another it will be sheet Of
emerald grass seen through clump Of
trees. Or it may be as we plod wearily
along, the notes Of some old familiar air
halfforgotten,. will be borne to our ear
and the spirit will be transported back tC
the halcyon days of yore, when we gathered
the wild violets, and watched the little
snowy, half closed umbrellas made by the
wind-howers Then, will memory "brins
back the scenes of vanished years. and
the forms of those who are waiting for ui
will rise to our mental vision. Thus are
we brought to live better lives as we re
peat: 'sThe Master knoweth best
o, the beautiful flowers how they seen
to whisper to tired and weary hearts words
of consolation, and place before tear-dimm q
eyes dreams of glad resurrection, of which
they are type.
Let us cherish then the love of looking
back. The spirit bruised by the blows
of sorrow, and bowed with weight Of
cares will thus musingly gather the faller
blossoms Of the past, to cover the dark pit
falls of the present.
Fairy Glen, Nd, 1886.