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Article THE END OF PERFECTION. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The End Of Perfection.
THE END OF PERFECTION .
I HAVE seen a man in the glory of his days and the pride of his strength . He was built like the tall cedar that lifts its head above the forest trees ; like the strong oak that strikes its roots deeply into the bosom of the teeming earth . He feared no danger , for his spirit was brave ; he felt no sickness , for health circled in his veins ; and m the pride of his heart he wondered that any should groan , and sigh with pam . His mind was vigorous like his body ; he was perplexed at no intricacy , he was daunted intellecthe searched into hidden things
at no difficulty in the force of his ; , and that which was crooked he made plain . He went forth fearlessly upon the face of the mighty deep , to survey the many nations of the earth ; he measured the distance of the stars and called them by their names : by the knowledge of their positions in the firmament he guided his fragile bark over the many waters of the deep , and the lands ot the became his resting lacesHe loried with a vain pride m the
stranger p . g extent of his wisdom , in the vigour of his understanding , and strove to search even into that which the Almighty in his mercy hath concea ed ; and when I looked upon him , I exclaimed , " What a piece of work is man ! how noble in reason , how infinite in faculties , m action how like an ansrel . —in apprehension how like a god . " nis
I returned after long years . His look was no more lotty , nor step proud , his broken frame was like some ruined tower , his hairs were white and scattered ; and his once eagle eye gazed vacantly upon a 11 that passed around him : the vigour of his intellect was wasted—of all that he had gained by long years of painful study and observation broken recollections alone remained . He feared when there was no danger ; when there was no sorrow he wept ; his memory was decayed and treacherous , and showed him onlfaded images of the pastHis house was to him like
y . a strange land , and his friends were counted as enemies ; he thought himself strong and healthful while his foot tottered on the verge of the grave . He said of his son , he is my brother ; of his daughter I know her not ; and even enquired what was his own name . And as I gazed and wept , one who supported his last steps said to me as he passed : " Let thine heart receive instruction , for thou hast seen the end ot all
earthly perfection . " , , I have seen a beautiful female treading the first stages of youth and entering joyously into the many p leasures of life : The glance of her modest eye was variable and sweet , and upon her cheek trembled something like the first blush of the morning . Her lips moved , and there was harmony like the music of sweet birds ; and when she floated in the graceful mazes of the dance , her light form , like the delicate leaves of the
aspen , seemed to move with the breeze . . I returned , but she was not in the dance . I sought her in the gay circle of her youthful and lovely companions , but I found her not ; her eye sparkled not there : the music of her voice was silent , for she rejoiced on earth no more . I watched a train , sable and sad , who bore with solemn pace to an open grave in a lonely churchyard what once was animated , beautiful , and beloved . They paused when they reached the loathsome sepulchre , and the voice of the priest broke the awful silence . "Ashes to ashes , dust to dust ! To the earth from whence she was taken consign we the body of our sister ; " they covered her once beautiful torm
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The End Of Perfection.
THE END OF PERFECTION .
I HAVE seen a man in the glory of his days and the pride of his strength . He was built like the tall cedar that lifts its head above the forest trees ; like the strong oak that strikes its roots deeply into the bosom of the teeming earth . He feared no danger , for his spirit was brave ; he felt no sickness , for health circled in his veins ; and m the pride of his heart he wondered that any should groan , and sigh with pam . His mind was vigorous like his body ; he was perplexed at no intricacy , he was daunted intellecthe searched into hidden things
at no difficulty in the force of his ; , and that which was crooked he made plain . He went forth fearlessly upon the face of the mighty deep , to survey the many nations of the earth ; he measured the distance of the stars and called them by their names : by the knowledge of their positions in the firmament he guided his fragile bark over the many waters of the deep , and the lands ot the became his resting lacesHe loried with a vain pride m the
stranger p . g extent of his wisdom , in the vigour of his understanding , and strove to search even into that which the Almighty in his mercy hath concea ed ; and when I looked upon him , I exclaimed , " What a piece of work is man ! how noble in reason , how infinite in faculties , m action how like an ansrel . —in apprehension how like a god . " nis
I returned after long years . His look was no more lotty , nor step proud , his broken frame was like some ruined tower , his hairs were white and scattered ; and his once eagle eye gazed vacantly upon a 11 that passed around him : the vigour of his intellect was wasted—of all that he had gained by long years of painful study and observation broken recollections alone remained . He feared when there was no danger ; when there was no sorrow he wept ; his memory was decayed and treacherous , and showed him onlfaded images of the pastHis house was to him like
y . a strange land , and his friends were counted as enemies ; he thought himself strong and healthful while his foot tottered on the verge of the grave . He said of his son , he is my brother ; of his daughter I know her not ; and even enquired what was his own name . And as I gazed and wept , one who supported his last steps said to me as he passed : " Let thine heart receive instruction , for thou hast seen the end ot all
earthly perfection . " , , I have seen a beautiful female treading the first stages of youth and entering joyously into the many p leasures of life : The glance of her modest eye was variable and sweet , and upon her cheek trembled something like the first blush of the morning . Her lips moved , and there was harmony like the music of sweet birds ; and when she floated in the graceful mazes of the dance , her light form , like the delicate leaves of the
aspen , seemed to move with the breeze . . I returned , but she was not in the dance . I sought her in the gay circle of her youthful and lovely companions , but I found her not ; her eye sparkled not there : the music of her voice was silent , for she rejoiced on earth no more . I watched a train , sable and sad , who bore with solemn pace to an open grave in a lonely churchyard what once was animated , beautiful , and beloved . They paused when they reached the loathsome sepulchre , and the voice of the priest broke the awful silence . "Ashes to ashes , dust to dust ! To the earth from whence she was taken consign we the body of our sister ; " they covered her once beautiful torm