THE TWO ROADS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 206, 22 January 1866, Page 3

THE TWO ROADS.

It was New V ear s night. An aged man was standing at a window. . He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep bLue sky, where ilie stai-3 were floating, like white lillies, on the surface of a clear, calm lake. Then he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless beings than himself now moved toward i he certain gaol — the tomb. Already he had passed sixty of the stages which lead to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. His 1 health was destroyed, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age devoid of comfort. The days of his youth rose up in a vision before him, and he recalled the solemn moment, when his father had placed him at the entrance of two roads, one leading into a peaceful, sunny land, covered with fertile harvest, and resounding with soft, sweet songs ; while the other conducted ihe wanderer into a deep, dark cave, whence there was no issue, where poison flowed instead of water, and serpents hissed and crawled. He looked toward the sky, and cried out in his agony, " O Youth, return ! Omy father, place me once more at the entrance to life, that I may choose the better way !" But the days of his youth and his father had both passed away. He saw wandering lights floating far away over dark marshes, and tlien disappear — these were the days of his wasted hie. He saw a star fall from heaven, and vanish in darkness. This was an emblem of himself ; and the sharp arrows of unavailing remorse struck home to his heart. Then he remembered his early companions, who entered on life with him but who, having trod the paths of virtue and of labor, were now happy and honoured on this New Years' Night. The clock in the high church tower struck, and the sound falling on the ear, recalled his parents' early love for him, their prayers they had offered up on his behalf. Overwhelmed with shame and grief, he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his lather dwelt; his darkened eyes dropped tears, and with one despairing elfort, he cried aloud, " Come back, my early days, come back!" And his youth did return ; for all this was but a dream which visited his slumbers on New Years' Night. He was still young ; his faults alone were real. He thanked G-od, 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. Ye who still linger on the threshold of life, doubtiug which path to choose, remember that, when years are passed, and your feet stumble on the dark mountain^ you will cry bitterly, but cry in vain, " O youth, return ! O give me back my early days !"