Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-09
THE DEPARTED YEAR,


aud the extensive chain ct cares, which
assert a predon;aatipg influence over The
human mind. none appears Sc admirably
calculated Ia arrest the impe'uoSity OF pas
sion. ~ restrain the wsnderings OF fanc',
ard call home the soul 10 the bosom o
sensibiTity, as the dark and gloomy season
which reminds Us. that time is about to
record. an his tablet OF departed ages, the
conquest OF another year.
AT period 50 peculiarly susceptible OF
melancholy impressions, every heart, sim
alive TO the vibrations ot sympathy, ana
the sacred Indulgence Of thought, IS pre-
sented with a fruitful theme both OF prot
i, and pleasure. Of the former. because
we cannot svoid the assimilation OF our
own destiny, With the years which are
passng on such hasty wing before us; and
OF ,hr latter, mas much "a The spirit can
look fnrw ard, with humble hope, and
trembling expectation, 10 scenes oil sane-
r.Or fsl'c ~, where there shall be nei'her
.be ginning OF days nor End OF years,
long after the pasti0"s. tells, ant sorrows,
oha mom.nt7ry existence. ,halt he forgot
Ten beneath the same turf. which extends
IFS protection over Inc decaying remnants
v.
yjeyless line which the custot1S ot society
bav. drawn, between the departing. and
the approaching year, no heart can boast
the possession of sensibi'i,y or rehned in
tellgpnce, that does not rest awhile. TO
review the events Of the past-ps rbaps
with longing lingering look" 50 tar as
they have inf,le ,ced the comp'eN'"p OF
his own individual fate. Who is there.
that is not often sensihiy impressed, with
the IDEAS that rush unblddeD on the mind,
informing him that the years OF his own
pilgrimage, seem to grow shorter IN their
duration. as they lead him unconsciously
down LIES fading slope, toward the silent
valley, where he must ere long rest ioreV-
err Inpeiled to the indulgence OF sober
retro.pection, as we'll as at tond antlcipa-
ton by the retarn of the season universal
iy devoted 10 festive bilsFity. the reflect
ing mind values no employment so highly,
rs that which conducts it's dearest rec0l.
leciions back to The days OF childhood and
OF youth; and constrains II 10 sigh instinct.
iyeiy, "t Yesterdays to come"-and
while the PRAYER of friendship tor many q
E'hsppy wear" is mutually received and
reciproca,ed we are startled at the neces-
sry of enquirrng-wbat have the past
conferred; how long will tn future con-
tinue; and wha, will they produce!
In glancing over the scenes that have
left no traces of their existence, but 10 the
pangs that still besiege the heart; how
eagerly turns the eve toward the green
fields. the yerdsnt meadows the bending
orchard the majestic woods, and the pia-
cid riyuiet. where oar little hands have Of
fen loved to search the tangled hedge, pur-
sue the cautious hee, invade the oird's
nest, climb the towering oak, or urge our
mimic bark upon the wave! While the IN.
fan,ile bosom exuted ia the possession ut
its toys. and irs gHilsless sports we che
riShe ! the vain belief that they should last
forever. Bui the realities Of more adFan-
eel HE. have compelled us 10 scknnwleoge
the rail tenure ny which all things Oh
ear h re heli-theR rTii W fatn--
-" Bid dav stand still;
g Bid him drive hack his car and re impart
"The period rast, re give the gwen hour; ;"
Put The spreading wings ut time, give too
mighty an impulse to has career. as he
giles along our path, to be arrested by
the weak remOnStrsnCes, or caPriciOus CHI
dings of an insect, over whose little mound
of earth he is so soon to reverse hrs ex'
haustei glass! Those days OF Innocence
are gone-The weary suourner casts
sorrow tul glance over Iife's chill and faded
landscape, and finds nothing external TO
envy or Misunderstanding within to graft
fy. solace, or delight. As the diSconsolate
prisoner in his cell, records the days OF
captivity on his kReried stick, so he re-
counts the years OF his iliaeraRt progress,
with all their fluctuations, changes and
vicissitudes Winter has seized upon those
smiling meadows, aad plundered the ar
bors of summer of her sweetest garIands
the little riyulet is dried up, or news
else ~ here-the mountain storm murmurs
through the lsaf1ess forest; and the ruddy-
checked friends, who were ever at his
side, sharing his pleasures and his woes
have withdrawn the tender hand from bis,
and retreated behind the sod. lie par
ceives that the world has been TO him a
painted shrew :" and finds by his own
dim eye, his faltsriRg accent AMI his trem-
bling step, that he has strayed into the
path, which IS ere long to terminate amidst
the shades of sieace. and the groves ot
death Till having paced much this
we ry mortal round," he recliues awhile
by the waY-side, 10 muse with sickening
aversion OF the manners of men, and de
vote sigh OF bitterness, over the joys
that have hed from his embrace.
Remembrance wakes with all her lovely
train
Is Sweils at his heart, and turns the past to
pain"
Such will ever be bis cnnc!u ions tof
somh;e hue grant who curbs the fretted
REM oi headlong passion, to look round a
mo nent on me world, and see with
Whata par ial hand The scale OF good and
=. - NJ 4