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A Place In Thy Memory

Creator: S.H. DeKroyft (author)
Date: 1854
Publisher: John F. Trow, New York
Source: Available at selected libraries

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As the gifted Euler, in the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburgh, saw his figures and angles fade, and all objects of sight pass into dim distance, so Mr. G--- tells me, the slow but sure hand of cataract is weaving her veils before his sight, which science has never reached and surgery has rarely turned away. Already the morning shines but dimly, the noon is painfully bright, the night shades are thick and foggy, his way is uncertain, and the faces of familiar friends look strangely, and not till they speak does he know one from the other. One hath said --

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"to die is nothing,
But to live and not see is misfortune."

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But it will not be so with Mr. G---. As Huber knew bees and their habits before his blindness, so Mr. G--- has learned the ways and the wants of the poor. And when the light shall cease to stream in upon his mind, the gladdened smile of the widow and orphan will be to his heart a sunshine, as pure and lasting as love in heaven. Adieu, Cora.

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November, 1848.

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Rochester, Carry's Home.

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MY SCHOOL FRIEND LAURA: -- It is pleasant to be even the sport of a chance breeze, while it continues to sit one down by pleasant places. You must know I have become a perfect wanderer; claiming no abiding place with any sect, or people; passing the time, however, always with the good, as invitations favor.

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They tell me gratitude -- that holiest of heavenly emotions -- is too much the theme of my letters; that I give words of thanks and praise to every body who is kind, all unmindful that green-eyed prejudice is still in the world. But, they who say thus should know, years have gone by since even a harsh word has fallen on my ears -- since I have seen a frowning face, a look of anger or revenge. The cold, the unfeeling, whose souls are peopled with selfishness and haughty pride, never seek the friendship of the blind, but, like Priests and Levites, pass on the other side. So you see I am necessarily always with the good; for they alone find pleasure in contributing to the happiness of one, who can make no return for their multiplied favors. Miss Ferrier says beautifully in her "Marriage," "As the ancients held sacred the oak riven by the lightning, so a delicate mind always regards one who has been afflicted, as if touched by the hand of God himself."

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We are creatures of habit, and form our notions of the world from what we see of it. Wonder not, then, if I call it only bright and beautiful. Those around may wear looks of sadness; may grow old; their teeth fall; their eyes become dim, and their locks gray; wrinkles may be on their brows, trace-marks of grief and care; but they look not so to me. The last time I saw the green earth, and its inhabitants, they wore yet the sunny hues of innocence and gladness, with which unsuspecting youth covers all things. And so they seem to me now; and were I to bear a report to heaven, I should call this a charming world, a kind, a loving, and a forgiving world; I should say men oftener love than hate, oftener do good than ill.

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"Long, long be my heart with such memories filled,
Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled,
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."

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It is Saturday, Laura, the preparation day of the Jews. A March morning, more lovely and clear, never graced an Italian sky. The ice-bands of the Genesee are broken, and its waters roll on, tossing liquid gems to the sunbeams. Robins, the first warblers among the leafless trees, are welcoming the Spring.

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I have been with Lizzy and Carry to the place of prayer; and the solemnities of the house of God are still on my thoughts. White-haired age, and the young, were there, inquiring "what shall we do to be saved?" Mr. Wisner opened the exercises with the words, ''Seek me early, and ye shall surely find me." Mr. Shaw followed, addressing himself most affectingly to the youth of his congregation; children of the Covenant. Miss Allen arose, and in tears, meekly asked the people of God to pray for the young ladies of her school, many of whom had accompanied her, seeking Jesus, whom to know aright is life eternal. "Blessed are the pure for they shall see God." This reminded me of like scenes in the old Seminary Chapel, where we so often assembled for prayers; when not one was left in the school who had not learned to pray and tasted that the Lord is good. The voices of those pious teachers, Professor Hoyt, Professor Whitlock, &c.; their lessons of instruction, their precious counsels, clustered around my heart, until it seemed "all life's scattered sweets were gathered into that one hour." Laura, now the sky is covered over with clouds, rain-drops are falling fast. Oh! that the dews of heavenly love, and the sweets of pardon, would so descend upon the earth, making it all like a well-watered garden, producing abundantly the fruits of righteousness.

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As in nature, the brightest sunshine casts the deepest shadow, so human life is made up of contrasts of lights and shades, calms and storms, smiles and tears. Laura, we met amid scenes of mirth, we were happy, we were gay. We often met, and at every meeting gained something for our friendship's storage. You are still in the temple where we worshipped at the shrine of knowledge. The future is bright before you, and its symbols are big with joyous meaning. But, Laura, were I to ask a boon for thee, it would not be a life free from adverse winds and storms. Joy hath her ministers, but grief alone subdues and restrains the spirit. As the rod of the sainted Hebrew brought gushing waters from the rock, so sorrow moves the feeling fountains of the heart. While refreshing your mind at the springs of Castalia, forget not the once farewell words of our good Professor Seager, "First of all be Bible students." Ignorance of any thing else may be palliated, but if we lack knowledge of the Scriptures, we have no excuse, no pardon. Read often, then, the Word of God. It will add wisdom to your thoughts, peace to your life, and thereby good will come unto thee, and thy days shall be long upon the earth.

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