SERIOUS REFLECTIONS.

From The Trenton Emporium.
: 'Y' 50 THE WORLD.
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- ':'' 50 THE WORLD.


"From tho sublime to the ridiculous, there is
but step"


As there are two seasons in this lie, con-
tradistinguished in every respect, the morn
ing and cvenins-youth and Old aSe---so
there are two distinct stages in its progress
ion. through each of which the mind has
ucculiar and different train Of feelings. lhe
first stage is the reign Of enthusiasm, the Sc
cond that of reason. In youth, we arc ssnti-
mental-in age, sometimes msanthropes.
In the first season we see every thing super
ficially, and through a medium OF warm and
active imagination, heated with the hre OF
passion, cherish hopes where there Is no
foundation, sec beauties whtrc there are
none, and excellence in pcrfection-Dut
grown wiser by experience, and aiaed by inc
/ triumph of reason over the fickcrinB ana dy-
ing lights of inauguration, we sometimes 90
as far in the last as we went in the hrst eX-
treme. This process is steady and pro-
eressive one, but generally certain and SINH
| lar in its consequences and results.


| | am now writing from my own expert
cnce. The first distinct idea | had OF the
deceptive nature Of appearances, was IN inc
view of distant landscape-it was bcauti-
! full; a very paradise-made OF level ana cx-
tcnsive meadows, sprinkled over with cus-
tiers of trees, winding stream IN the tT'dat.
approached it, and its charms vahshea-
the plain was rough and uneven, weeds and
hr;,rs lined the hedges-thc fences were
| rude and decaying--thc stream muddy and
slueeis,,-and the trees they were common
ones, lust such as grow every where. For
a moment. then, had doubt; whether the
world as it presented itself to young mind,
was not altogether deceptive.


had a friend who wound himself deep in
70 nv confidence, and believed him alto
ccthcr worthy. He professed to be devoted
to me, and did some things to please me,
said many things to fatter me, was always
in my company when leisure allowed him
thought the world of him-and he took the
first fair opportunity ofcheating me most
I will not say the word, but was little
staggered.


Affairs, more peculiarly of the heart, make
up always good many pages in the history
of early life. l took it into my head that
little girl who lived in the neighborhood, was
absolutely, and to all intents and purposes
All angel--that she had not an equal an the
world, was the most beautiful, the mos
bewitching, elegant, ETHEREAL minded oeinS
that was ever sent below the clouas' Wa'
sincere and confident of thls-I took every



courage and ingenuity l succeeded, 1t afford
ed me a weeks happiness-these were al
necessary, Sunday occasions when people
look as well and talk as prettily AS possible


At last an extra opportunity OF seeing th'
fair creature occurred-l was to go over th'
farm on an errand. An ambassador on hi
first introduction to the presence OF sove
reign, could not have made better displa.
Of his wardrobe than did of mine--ever,
hair was exactly adjusted-ny hat put care
fully on-a pair of clean shoes under my
arm; which were to be carried to the farm
er's bars-and, in short, l went as ever.
ove-sick blockhead goes the first time to SET
his mistress most particularly hne; ant
feeling most particularly foolish.


gained the awful bars that brought me il
view of the more awful presence OF my an
gel-stuck my old shoes carefully under
log, put on my new ones, and went torwar'
: after having practised a bow OF two. Walk
ing leisurely down the lane, as near the fenc'
as possible, met drove of cows, and
girl dressed in dirty linsy frock, barefoot
and with her mouth and bosom be-smearet
with mush and molasses, driving them for
ward with sticks and stoncs-I met the com
pany-heavens the driver was my Sunda,,
lame-but what an angel threw my ha
down in the road-rumpled my hair--stucl
both nv shoes in the mud, and thought


was going crazy. was never afterwards
very enthusiastic lover.


:, There IS a plain, straightforward wa,
oftrudging through this world; and we ma,
as we'll accustom ourselves to 1t. hrst as last
Expecting nothing, we shall not be disap
pointol-a little sceptical on many matter
of appearance, we shall reach the realit,
without surprise; and the sooner we arrive a
the age of reason, perhaps the better it will
be for us.