the procession of life-第4章

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attempt　no　more　than　merely　to　associate　in　one　fraternity　all

who　are　afflicted　with　the　same　vague　trouble。　Some　great　mistake

in　life　is　the　chief　condition　of　admittance　into　this　class。

Here　are　members　of　the　learned　professions；　whom　Providence

endowed　with　special　gifts　for　the　plough；　the　forge；　and　the

wheelbarrow；　or　for　the　routine　of　unintellectual　business。　We

will　assign　to　them；　as　partners　in　the　march；　those　lowly

laborers　and　handicraftsmen；　who　have　pined；　as　with　a　dying

thirst；　after　the　unattainable　fountains　of　knowledge。　The　latter

have　lost　less　than　their　companions；　yet　more；　because　they　deem

it　infinite。　Perchance　the　two　species　of　unfortunates　may

comfort　one　another。　Here　are　Quakers　with　the　instinct　of　battle

in　them；　and　men　of　war　who　should　have　worn　the　broad　brim。

Authors　shall　be　ranked　here　whom　some　freak　of　Nature；　making

game　of　her　poor　children；　had　imbued　with　the　confidence　of

genius　and　strong　desire　of　fame；　but　has　favored　with　no

corresponding　power；　and　others；　whose　lofty　gifts　were

unaccompanied　with　the　faculty　of　expression；　or　any　of　that

earthly　machinery　by　which　ethereal　endowments　must　be　manifested

to　mankind。　All　these；　therefore；　are　melancholy　laughing…stocks。

Next；　here　are　honest　and　well　intentioned　persons；　who　by　a　want

of　tactby　inaccurate　perceptionsby　a　distorting

imaginationhave　been　kept　continually　at　cross　purposes　with

the　world　and　bewildered　upon　the　path　of　life。　Let　us　see　if

they　can　confine　themselves　within　the　line　of　our　procession。　In

this　class；　likewise；　we　must　assign　places　to　those　who　have

encountered　that　worst　of　ill　success；　a　higher　fortune　than

their　abilities　could　vindicate；　writers；　actors；　painters；　the

pets　of　a　day；　but　whose　laurels　wither　unrenewed　amid　their

hoary　hair；　politicians；　whom　some　malicious　contingency　of

affairs　has　thrust　into　conspicuous　station；　where；　while　the

world　stands　gazing　at　them；　the　dreary　consciousness　of

imbecility　makes　them　curse　their　birth　hour。　To　such　men；　we

give　for　a　companion　him　whose　rare　talents；　which　perhaps

require　a　Revolution　for　their　exercise；　are　buried　in　the　tomb

of　sluggish　circumstances。



Not　far　from　these；　we　must　find　room　for　one　whose　success　has

been　of　the　wrong　kind；　the　man　who　should　have　lingered　in　the

cloisters　of　a　university；　digging　new　treasures　out　of　the

Herculaneum　of　antique　lore；　diffusing　depth　and　accuracy　of

literature　throughout　his　country；　and　thus　making　for　himself　a

great　and　quiet　fame。　But　the　outward　tendencies　around　him　have

proved　too　powerful　for　his　inward　nature；　and　have　drawn　him

into　the　arena　of　political　tumult；　there　to　contend　at

disadvantage；　whether　front　to　front；　or　side　by　side；　with　the

brawny　giants　of　actual　life。　He　becomes；　it　may　be；　a　name　for

brawling　parties　to　bandy　to　and　fro；　a　legislator　of　the　Union；

a　governor　of　his　native　state；　an　ambassador　to　the　courts　of

kings　or　queens；　and　the　world　may　deem　him　a　man　of　happy　stars。

But　not　so　the　wise；　and　not　so　himself；　when　he　looks　through

his　experience；　and　sighs　to　miss　that　fitness；　the　one

invaluable　touch　which　makes　all　things　true　and　real。　So　much

achieved；　yet　how　abortive　is　his　life！　Whom　shall　we　choose　for

his　companion？　Some　weak　framed　blacksmith；　perhaps；　whose

delicacy　of　muscle　might　have　suited　a　tailor's　shopboard　better

than　the　anvil。



Shall　we　bid　the　trumpet　sound　again？　It　is　hardly　worth　the

while。　There　remain　a　few　idle　men　of　fortune；　tavern　and

grog…shop　loungers；　lazzaroni；　old　bachelors；　decaying　maidens；

and　people　of　crooked　intellect　or　temper；　all　of　whom　may　find

their　like；　or　some　tolerable　approach　to　it；　in　the　plentiful

diversity　of　our　latter　class。　There　too；　as　his　ultimate

destiny；　must　we　rank　the　dreamer；　who；　all　his　life　long；　has

cherished　the　idea　that　he　was　peculiarly　apt　for　something；　but

never　could　determine　what　it　was；　and　there　the　most　unfortunate

of　men；　whose　purpose　it　has　been　to　enjoy　life's　pleasures；　but

to　avoid　a　manful　struggle　with　its　toil　and　sorrow。　The

remainder；　if　any；　may　connect　themselves　with　whatever　rank　of

the　procession　they　shall　find　best　adapted　to　their　tastes　and

consciences。　The　worst　possible　fate　would　be　to　remain　behind；

shivering　in　the　solitude　of　time；　while　all　the　world　is　on　the

move　towards　eternity。　Our　attempt　to　classify　society　is　now

complete。　The　result　may　be　anything　but　perfect；　yet　betterto

give　it　the　very　lowest　praisethan　the　antique　rule　of　the

herald's　office；　or　the　modern　one　of　the　tax…gatherer；　whereby

the　accidents　and　superficial　attributes　with　which　the　real

nature　of　individuals　has　least　to　do；　are　acted　upon　as　the

deepest　characteristics　of　mankind。　Our　task　is　done！　Now　let　the

grand　procession　move！



Yet　pause　a　while！　We　had　forgotten　the　Chief　Marshal。



Hark！　That　world…wide　swell　of　solemn　music；　with　the　clang　of　a

mighty　bell　breaking　forth　through　its　regulated　uproar；

announces　his　approach。　He　comes；　a　severe；　sedate；　immovable；

dark　rider；　waving　his　truncheon　of　universal　sway；　as　he　passes

along　the　lengthened　line；　on　the　pale　horse　of　the　Revelation。

It　is　Death！　Who　else　could　assume　the　guidance　of　a　procession

that　comprehends　all　humanity？　And　if　some；　among　these　many

millions；　should　deem　themselves　classed　amiss；　yet　let　them　take

to　their　hearts　the　comfortable　truth　that　Death　levels　us　all

into　one　great　brotherhood；　and　that　another　state　of　being　will

surely　rectify　the　wrong　of　this。　Then　breathe　thy　wail　upon　the

earth's　wailing　wind；　thou　band　of　melancholy　music；　made　up　of

every　sigh　that　the　human　heart；　unsatisfied；　has　uttered！　There

is　yet　triumph　in　thy　tones。　And　now　we　move！　Beggars　in　their

rags；　and　Kings　trailing　the　regal　purple　in　the　dust；　the

Warrior's　gleaming　helmet；　the　Priest　in　his　sable　robe；　the

hoary　Grandsire；　who　has　run　life's　circle　and　come　back　to

childhood；　the　ruddy　School…boy　with　his　golden　curls；　frisking

along　the　march；　the　Artisan's　stuff　jacket；　the　Noble's

star…decorated　coat；the　whole　presenting　a　motley　spectacle；

yet　with　a　dusky　grandeur　brooding　over　it。　Onward；　onward；　into

that　dimness　where　the　lights　of　Time　which　have　blazed　along　the

procession；　are　flickering　in　their　sockets！　And　whither！　We　know

not；　and　Death；　hitherto　our　leader；　deserts　us　by　the　wayside；

as　the　tramp　of　our　innumerable　footsteps　echoes　beyond　his

sphere。　He　knows　not；　more　than　we；　our　destined　goal。　But　God；

who　made　us；　knows；　and　will　not　leave　us　on　our　toilsome　and

doubtful　march；　either　to　wander　in　infinite　uncertainty；　or

perish　by　the　way！