VI.—THE TWO ROADS.

1. It was New Year’s night. An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating, like white lilies, on the surface of a clear, calm lake. Then he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless beings than himself now moved towards their certain goal[45]—the tomb.

2. Already he had passed sixty of the stages[46]which lead to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. His health was destroyed, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age devoid of comfort.

3. The days of his youth rose up in a vision[47]before him, and he recalled the solemn moment when his father had placed him at the entrance of two roads—oneleading into a peaceful, sunny land, covered with a fertile harvest, and resounding with soft, sweet songs; theotherleading the wanderer into a deep, dark cave, whence there was no issue[48], where poison flowed instead of water, and where serpents hissed and crawled.

4. He looked towards the sky, and cried out in his agony, “O youth, return! O my father, place me once more at the entrance to life, that I may choose the better way!” But his father and the days of his youth had both passed away.

5. He saw wondering lights floating away over dark marshes, and then disappear.Thesewere the days of his wasted life. He saw a star fall from heaven, and vanish in darkness. This was an emblem[49]of himself, and the sharp arrows of unavailing remorse[50]struck home to his heart. Then he remembered his earlycompanions, who entered on life with him, but who, having trod the paths of virtue and of labor, were now honored and happy on this New Year’s night.

6. The clock, in the high church tower, struck, and the sound, falling on his ear, recalled his parents’ early love for him, their erring son; the lessons they had taught him; the prayers they had offered up in his behalf. Overwhelmed with shame and grief, he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his father dwelt; his darkened eyes dropped tears, and with one despairing effort, he cried aloud, “Come back, my early days! come back!”

7. And his youthdidreturn; for all this was but a dream which visited his slumbers on New Year’s night. He was still young; his faults alone were real. He thanked God fervently that time was still his own; that he had not yet entered the deep, dark cavern, but that he was free to tread the road leading to the peaceful land where sunny harvests wave.

8. Ye who still linger on the threshold[51]of life, doubting which path to choose, remember that, when years are passed, and your feet stumble on the dark mountain, you will cry bitterly[52], but cry in vain, “O youth, return! O, give me back my early days!”

[45]Goal, a post or mark set to bound a race, end.[46]Stagˊes, steps or degrees of advance or progress.[47]Viˊsion, an imaginary appearance, as seen in a dream or in sleep.[48]Isˊsue(Ishˊshu), egress, passage out.[49]Emˊblem, a picture or object representing one thing to the eye and another to the understanding.[50]Re-morseˊ, reproach of conscience.[51]Threshˊold, a door-sill; beginning; entrance.[52]Bitˊter-ly, sorrowfully.

[45]Goal, a post or mark set to bound a race, end.

[46]Stagˊes, steps or degrees of advance or progress.

[47]Viˊsion, an imaginary appearance, as seen in a dream or in sleep.

[48]Isˊsue(Ishˊshu), egress, passage out.

[49]Emˊblem, a picture or object representing one thing to the eye and another to the understanding.

[50]Re-morseˊ, reproach of conscience.

[51]Threshˊold, a door-sill; beginning; entrance.

[52]Bitˊter-ly, sorrowfully.

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