Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-04
From the Baltimore Federal Repub'sca"
NEW YEAR

From the Baltimore Federal Republican.
NEW YEAR
This is the first day OF another year, and
on an occasion like this, il IS our duly 10
think not only ON the present 4 the iulure'
but TO review the past.-lt IS true tnat
custom has made this season oil much
mirth and OF many frivolous TtShsS' aho
these causes, not unIrequentiy tanish from
our minds those reflections with whico
they ought TO be filled, when anothef year
of nur life has sunk forever m Inc guiph o'
time.-Un der this impression we prepa-
red an article tor the occasion, when We
however laid aside on reading the follow,
iug able and eloquent remarks In Inc oa'
lem Gazette The writer says, that the
closing season OF the year, though unaouot'
edly season of pensiveness, brings via
il much that is instructive, Il much that Is
interesting. 1t is season which no one
can approach without emotion, and none
can pass through, without feehns no"
transient and how perishable are the
charms of earth. 1t is then that The proud
heart stoops from lis dangerous elevation;
and the veriest wording VINO would not
heed the loudest thunder, is sottened into
tenderness by the voice OF decaying ma
tme. Silent indeed are It's whispers, but
il speaks TO the heart. He hears It IN the
winds and .lorm-it sigL, from the leaf
less wood and deso!ated held-it echoes
from the OCEAN and clouds and he Weeps
khat sucn is The trail tenure by which he
holds bis possessions aud hopes. The tall'
ins leaf and the dropping Hower are 10
the uusanctihed but the slgnai tor depres'
sion, canceliing tue dreams OF happiness
below, and reminding them OF the aP,
preaching autumn oi lie, when they must
sleep 10 the silent grave. Whsre-where
csa they ind consolation, when all the
gior,es OF the year are clothed 10 SACK
cloth, and all within Is wilderness, and
the grave opens before them, AND all be-
You'd IS a dark and ie4 rIu mystery
But the Christian--ii his earthly COM
forts die, he knows that his Redeemer
lives. Ii the blossom iades--ii the winds
arise, and the winter gathers: he feels
that his hopes are liked on the R0ck of
Ages, and cannot be shaken by the whlrI'
winds OF earth. The same decay, the
same gloom aud incieuenCles, which sad
den The minds OF others, awaken IN the
Christian terminated zeal, quicken the
pulse OF moral feeling, and teaching him
tue value OF his inheritance beyond the
grave. Now he ieels ihat this Is not hrs
home. Earth dwindies into insignia
canoe wealth aud beauty lose their ius-
tire titles anu dignItIes cease 10 charm
and a soothing melancholy CONES over
him, which diDs the splendors OF earthly
glory, and brings nearer the Visions Of
brighter world. Under the influence OF
such impressions, he Is proof against the
calamltles OF life affection cannot dis,
may poverty cannot depress ; misfortune
canRol ALLEVIATE amid reproaches and sui"
ferlng and death he is still unmoved, look
ing forward 10 that eternal spring, when
tie storms OF lite shall cease forever.
Another impression which this season
is well fitted to produce, is, the vanity OF
earthly hopes. Where now is The bloom
of spring, and the maguidcence OF sum-
mer Where are those glowing skies and
that romantic scenery, and all the pro-
phelie visions that then clustered around
US? Alas they are out the emblems OF
human frailty. In this short and rapid pc
Rod. which has swept away all the beau
ties OF vegetable nature, and ether chan