I WOULD NOT LIVE ALWAY. "Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death! "We know when moons shall wane, When summer birds from far shall cross the sea, All places, also, are Death's. "Thou art where billows foam; Thou art where music melts upon the air ; "Thou art where friend meets friend, Beneath the shadow of the elm to rest: Thou art where foe meets foe, and trumpets rend The skies, and swords beat down the princely crest." 317 Thus Death is indeed a "king of terrors," an enemy which delights in severing the nearest relations of life, blighting its fondest hopes, and spreading darkness over its fairest scenes. And yet, there are seasons when his coming is welcomed with gladness, and he is hailed as the "prince of peace." Not all the pains he can inflict, or the repulsive forms, with which he can crowd the imagination, can render us unwilling to resign ourselves into his arms. None can wish to live alway, however much they may be fascinated by the charms of existence, or however fondly they may cling to its treasures in the morning and meridian of their days, and when the rose of health blooms upon the cheek, and the eye is bright with hope. Sickness, adversity, age, and the ravages of time, make us anxious to retire from this troubled world, and cause a darkness to settle upon the soul, which nothing but death can dissipate. The attractions of the other world, as well as the evils of the present, render death welcome. Heaven's attractions! What a theme for the contemplation of the christian! Who can find language to express them in their fulness and power? Do they consist of gold and pearls, and magnifi 66 cent palaces; of "myrtle boughs," "feathery palm trees," green islands," "bright birds" of "starry wings," and rainbow beauties? O no! heaven's joys and treasures are all spiritual they have nothing of earth or its imperfec tions. Here, we see through a glass darkly, and are full of false and obscure ideas; but in heaven, we shall see face to face, and be filled with the fulness of knowledge. Then all those mysteries in the divine government, which have so perplexed our minds and tried our faith, will be solved; and the wisdom and goodness of those events, which have filled us with doubt and grief, will be as manifest as the most signal displays of mercy. Here we are far away from the Father and the Son, and cherish for them a cold and feeble regard; but there, we shall stand in their immediate presence, see the fulness of their glory, and be absorbed in love. Here, we live in frail tenements, and are corruptible; but there, we shall be clothed with immortality and incor ruptibility. Here, the ties of friendship are sundered, and the sad farewell falls like the knell of death upon the ear; but there, parting will be unknown, and union will be eternal. Heaven! it is a house not made with hands, lighted up with the splendors of Jehovah. It is a world of infinite plenty, eternal serenity, and unspeakable felicity. It is the home of the soul, the city which God hath built to be the perpetual habitation of his children; where, free from the misrule of passion, the darkness of sin, and every sound of wo, they shall raise the eternal song of triumph and thanksgiving. Who can think of its riches and glories, and not feel his soul attracted away from earth? "Hark! they whisper! angels say, Sister spirit, come away!" "O, who would live alway, away from his God, Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode, Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, And the noontide of glory eternally reigns?" THE AUTUMN ROSE. BY MISS MARY S. PATTERSON. I SAW, One bright autumnal day, A bosom decked with gold; And thought its charms had spell of power I wished that autumn rose so fair And shed through the surrounding air Vain wish! for on its ruddiness, Soon fell a withering blast; So pass earth's fairest flowers away, As clouds obscure the brightest day, But there's a balm for souls oppressed, Thrice happy they who can repose, On Him who wept for others' woes, IT has often been remarked, that Nature, as if parsimonious of her choicest gifts, has rarely bestowed on her favorite children, talents to excel, in the various and multiplied pursuits of human life. The race of heroes has generally proved as destructive in peace, as they have been terrible in war, while the ablest statesmen have been found, on experiment, incapable of acquiring any degree of military fame. It was this sentiment, founded as it would seem in nature, and justified by experience, which led the fond admirers of Washington to fear, that he might lose at the helm of state some portion of that glory which he had won at the head of our armies. To have expressed a belief at this interesting period of his life, that his glory was capable of any addition, would have been condemned as implying deficiency in a character deemed complete. To have indulged even the hope of an increase of honors, would have been viewed in no other light, than as one of those flattering delusions, which our wishes sometimes contrive to impose on our judgment. Entering upon a frame of government, excellent indeed in theory, but which had not as yet received the sanction of experience, it required no small share of political ability to lay the foundations of our civil institutions in such a manner, as best to secure domestic tranquillity, establish justice, promote the general welfare, and thus, in the way of gradual progression, to raise our country to that rank THE TRUE PATRIOT. 321 and importance among the nations, to which we seem destined by the God of nature. Without derogating from the praises due to the able and enlightened statesmen, who filled the subordinate departments of government, we can never forget, how much we owe to his prudence, judgment, and unremitted labors, that, while other nations are involved in a bloody and destructive war, our happy country has enjoyed so much internal tranquillity; that she has had time to mature her recent institutions; and to acquire that portion of strength, which, with the blessing of Heaven, will enable her to support her independence, and maintain her just rights against all her enemies. If the happiness of an unembodied spirit at all consists in the possession of felicitating ideas of the past, as doubtless it does, how great must be the happiness of Washington? As the saviour of his country, great must be his crown of rejoicing. On earth he sought no rewards, no statues, no triumphs. The attributes and decorations of royalty could only have served to eclipse the majesty of those virtues, which made him from being a modest citizen a more resplendent luminary. But on earth he was not without his reward. His was the reward of success attending all his patriotic labors; his the honest pride of virtue, and above all, the exquisite delight of beholding the general happiness, of which he was so eminently the author. The tokens of affection for his pure character, the proofs of gratitude for his services, and of reverence for his wisdom and preeminent virtues, exhibited by every description of persons at his death, will forever show how greatly he was beloved, esteemed, and honored by his country; and will serve to rescue our nation from the reproach of ingratitude, which has been cast on republics. He is now exalted above all earthly praise—we shall see his face no more. But the glory of his virtue will reach beyond the grave. When our rising empire shall have risen and sunk again into ruin, it will live and continue to animate remotest ages. |