The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-12-14
Communicated.

oAu ALetbeAss
What are they but wings not the less
dadalians for the wax with which they
are sealed; on which we may be waited
back in ina .ination, over the "gulf of
years., to the shores of the happy past.
Are we not young again reading those
forgotten histories? Does not the shadow
on the dial go beck-doeS not life stand
still, as we lnger over these reminders
of the past? Alas! that youth is not
eternal. But who would not rather fin
ish their life thau begin another? ! fancy
l can determine Il mans character from
his letters; if his sentiments are disguis-
ed, something, if but the handwriting,
will hetray him. | wish for no better
physiognomy. Is not letter spiritual
portrait, more perfect than amy work of
human art--an image of the soul? How
strangely it strikes one to fall in, acct
dendalv with letter of ones own writ
ing; is like meeting half-forgotten
friend. At first we are in doubt as to its
being production of our own, but some
thing tell us it is, though the ink is pale
and the sentiments that we once thought
impressive, seem less tritc. We may not
live AWAY. Our life is but a dream of
misery, from which, too often. we awake
TO the reality. There is but one solace
for human suffering, and that is human
love; il is the souls ailment. Therefore
do | love a letter new or old-for the
new will soon b. old, they are messages
of love and friendship, they have served
their duty, they have finished their course,
tears from sorrowing eyes have fallen
upon them, glad hearts have leaped for
| Joy over them, and now shall they be
neglected and despised? | would not use
brute thus. Yet there are many who
have no ears for the voice of an old let
ter; they forget how it thrilled them
once, they remember not the trembling
hands with which the seal was broken,
and the joy or the sorrow which it im-
pressed is forgotten. l have fondness
for the antique in general; and what
grows old sooner than a letter? How
many an old letter has grown perfect
ruin! And who would not wish to gaze
before death closes his eyes forever, on
magnificent time-worn ruin of the old
world? But an old letter is nobler
gloomer ruin than the proudest edifice
that ever crumbled to the ea tn. What
hopes and fears, joys and griefs, were
once centered in it's tear-dimmed pages
Perchance it was written in grief, per-
chance in joy. 1t may be that long cher
ished hopes were blighted by Its heart
crushing intelligence. Ingratitude aBt
treachery may have been there exhibited
Perhap, in solitude and sadness thai
sheet was read, and over it the heart was
broken, and then commenced the frs
moment of a life of despair. OF all let
tiers a love-letter does not improve will
age. Witness the profane glee of a maid
en- of sixteen, over the torn and blurred
sheet newly discovered in the garnet. set
ting forth the love of her honored father
for her now stately mother. The ange
has become a housewife. She excells il
receipts; she looks to the main chance
she saves the fragments. You who mus
write down your love, burn, beseech o
you, on your wedding night, your letters
If their heat has not al eady consumed
them. Their perusal, believe me, will b.
anything but refreshing in after years
My amusement of melancholy hour, il