PRAYER. LIKE the low murmur of the secret stream, Which through dark alders winds its shaded way, My suppliant voice is heard: Ah! do not deem That on vain toys I throw my hours away. In the recesses of the forest vale, On the wild mountain, and the verdant sod, When the faint sickness of a wounded heart Creeps in cold shuddering through my sinking O all pervading Spirit! sacred beam! Parent of life and light! Eternal Power! Grant me through obvious clouds one transient gleam Of Thy bright essence in my dying hour! W. Beckford. THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF HUMAN LIFE. HUMAN Life is ordinarily little less else than a collection of disappointments. Rarely is the life of man such as he designs it shall be. Often do we fail of pursuing at all the business originally in our view. The intentional farmer becomes a mechanic, a seaman, a merchant, a lawyer, a physician, or a divine. The very place of settlement and of residence through life, is often different and distant from that which was originally contemplated. Still more different is the success which follows our efforts. All men intend to be rich and honourable to enjoy ease, and to pursue pleasure. But how small is the number of those who compass these objects! In this country, the great body of mankind are, indeed, possessed of competence; a safer and happier lot than that to which they aspire; yet few, very few, are rich. Here also, the great body of mankind. possess a character generally reputable; but very limited is the number of those who arrive at the honour which they so ardently desire, and of which they feel assured. Almost all stop at the moderate level where human efforts appear to have their boundary established in the determinations of God. Nay, far below this level creep multitudes of such as began life with full confidence in the attainment of distinction and splendour. The lawyer, emulating the eloquence, business, and fame, of Murray or Dunning, and secretly resolved not to slacken his efforts until all his rivals in the race of glory are outstripped, is often astonished, as well as brokenhearted, to find business and fame pass by his door, and stop at the more favoured mansion of some competitor, in his view less able, and less discerning than himself. The physician, devoted to medical science, and possessed of distinguished powers of discerning and removing diseases, is obliged to walk, while a more fortunate empiric, ignorant and worthless, rolls along the streets in his coach. The legislator beholds with anguish and amazement, the suffrages of his countrymen given eagerly to a rival candidate, devoid of knowledge and in tegrity, but skilled in flattering the base passions of men, and deterred by no hesitations of conscience, and no fears of infamy, from saying or doing anything which may secure his election. The merchant often beholds, with a despairing eye, his own ships sunk in the ocean ; his debtors fail, his goods unsold; his business cramped; and himself, his family, and his hopes, ruined; while a less skilful, but more successful neighbour, sees wealth blown to him by every wind, and floated on every wave. The crops of the farmer are stinted; his cattle die; his markets are bad; and the purchaser of his commodities proves to be a cheat, who deceives his confidence, and runs away with his property. Thus the darling schemes, and fondest hopes of man, are daily frustrated by time. While sagacity contrives, patience matures, and labour industriously executes, disappointment laughs at the curious fabric, formed by so many efforts, and gay with so many brilliant colours; and, while the artists imagine the work arrived at the moment of completion, brushes away the beautiful web, and leaves nothing behind. Dwight. NATURE. NATURE never did betray The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege to lead Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold Is full of blessings. Hurdis A PUPIL in the Deaf and Dumb School, at Paris, being asked the question, What is Eternity? replied, "The lifetime of the Almighty God." |