Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-01-18
From III. csmnsrsiar lsOersssr
REFLECTIONS

Z
On she athro.eh Of the Ne'1- I car
Each monen, brings events, and on
mankind.
/" Unbosom'd her deep store ei ohss u
woe.
i. Year follows year, so strongly drawn
&c We barely view them. ere they hurry
/" Beyord our ken Of soul"
- ss*s Almost unconscious Oh
surrounding objecrs-los; m meoita''hs
on the rapid fight OF Tine, w'oss
viewless wheels have now roiid IN LILY
nmph Ger another year, pursued M!
sober wsv, iumers'd in gloomy tho
,rofoupd'-uutil the sudden salu'a1ion
Of lively acquaintance, rous,d me ifo'i'
nv revere. Well" said ne, YOU
rill certainly Join US at the ball, .o-nor
row evening al SO? On enqulr'ns
for what purpose, he replied, 1t was
their intention ".to dance the old yea'
oct, and the new year IN" however
cjviIlv aeclin'd the invitation OF my gay
friend, and continued my solitary WALK
/" And is it thus" said |, as resuh.
al NV former train of reelection" IS II
,bus we ,rise with the hee,ing hours 81
life, and sport, and froiic, round tbs
tomb of ach departed year An, no"
MANY, sc,uated by such motives, pleas a
ai,b such ,'ie fancies; who halied the
last merr, ~ tival, with hearts brlmtu!i
of giee, have long since lett the stage oi
riG;nr vanity, and gone DOWN to the
land Of si!ence Ills annual task per-
furred, the weary Sun now hastens TO
he goal; whence to take up once more
his tourney through the skies; yet as ne
nears me mark. seems kin-iy &c delay,
tnq, mor;als may reflect. Sure then,
me;hnks at SUCH an hour, contssn pa
i've mind should be inspired with senu-
ments far different from those, created
by the frivolou. pa, ade. and taste!ess
FOLLY of B ii room Come then, thou
siIken son Of pleasure for whom, each
davis made Of song and nirth {; and let
us search the boaslcd stores OF huma"
bliss. IVould'st dance the year away !!
Would'st have the flying steets OF ume,
more rapid in their course !-Ota all ou'
fraeile race, art thou alone TO taste CT
iov :? Why rather not look round upon
,his wretched world, and pause * think
How many houseiess waederers brave
the wintrv Winds! or in some cherries
howell, pinched with cold, weep DER the
mouldv b.eal of stinted charity: Ho"
many rnll b,neath the sword OF war,
whose orphans signs are never heard
abroad What countless thousands pine
IN secret wsn,. or Stretched on beds vi
laaguishment and pain, pour sut the
bitter drcgs Of Lies exhausted cup -
Then tell s,e not of earthly happiness.
while nothing in this suosunary scenc
deserves the heavenly name.-" ne
INDULGENCE Of all our wishes could no.
render rs per< anentlv best, for I'll mus!
fad. aray." Tis only W the. hours OF
CAIN reflection. wnea the bosom s'gh7
over many little pleasure OF the past,
that we are sensible how few and short
lived cur eujoymcnts are. IT fortunes
pnlden shower has crowned our aDXlous
ioi, and we III purple clethec, tar
snmp!uousiy. still, close at hand th2
warning spirit cries tnou shalt rot al
WAYS s.umber on velvet bed - III
lur'd to n.ingle with the Needless crowd
that throng the festive hail deck'd IL
their tinsei trappings; where human
fees are all forgot. where human tollles
reign-our inward monitor repeats
" The grave is siient-and the tomb Is
dark - Do numerous friends attend
cur path OF pilgrimage I've know that
we must par, ere long, aud go cur Sc
vera, wsvs, to meet beneath the sun no
more! We know, behind our fancled
ioys, there turks an hour Of change -
and IT'S this very certaiI1y that rohs tae
cup of bliss of half its sweets, & blasts
the opening flower OF hope--foois that
We are to chace phantom never to
be gra.ped-nor yield the ValH pursuit,
till on the borders Of the humble grave.
SnGrc E}U!tdiS ICSt tslCl SdtS D - ~ 90
100, among US but Can Borrowing say.
when the declining arprePares to wing
her flight to dark obliviops cave. some
long expected good has bese denied !;
some dear enjoyment severed from his
heart Or hapIy some loved friend,
who at its blythe commencement, re-
turned the mutual wish for 6 health and
happiness" been called away to REALMS
of peace above! Who has not SHE 6 the
holy dew of grief upon mothers blei !
Or, slowly paced amid the solemn
throng, to see brothers relics laid in
dust Say then, is this the good. for
which the wise might wish to live =
Are these the joys that charm the feel.
ing breast /? Are these the roses that
invite the touch, and shed their frag-
rance round our cheqaered path ! All !
rather should not this convince think
ing mind, how deeply deplorablc the