The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-26
From The .Ntic England Magazine.
THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.

We have been standing TOR the last two
months, as it were, by the bedside Of the
"dyiBg year," and have been able to mark
each successive step in the progress of de-
cay. Day after day, we have seen the sun
wheeling through a smaller arc of the
heavens, and, day after day. darkness has
been extending It's conqnests into the empire
of light. We have seen the leaves of the
trees exchange the glossy brightness of
summer, for the deepening shades of brown.
and finally detach themselves from the
twigs on which they nodded and danced.
and lie in nnsighty masses in the fields and
by the roadside.
There are various causes which operate
to give a sober coloring 10 the thoughts
which the present time suggests. The
sights and sounds that are around US are
calculated TO inspire them the snowy earth.
the leafess and mournful wind that signs
through them, and that peculiar bright and
cold look of the sky, especially during the
few moments of evening twilight The eff
feet of these impressions of the senses is
aided BY other considerations The close
of the year is a time when we pause and
look back at events which have marked its
progress. and especially those in which we
ourselves aremost directly interested. There
are few men, over whose heads a period of
twelve months passes without bringing
some affection; and now memory VIII call
up the ghosts of buried enioyments, and bid
the wounds of sorrow bleed afresh and if
we ourselves have been go favored az to
have an unbroken aow of prosperity and
happiness, it cannot be the case with many
who are dear to US, and we make their suf.
fering our own; for be, who thinks at all,
thinks for others as we'll as himself. Any
peculiar or striking event, which has oc-
Cured to us or our friends, an unexpected
piece Of good fortune, or unhOped for de-
liyerance from great danger, win he, or
ought to be, characterized by awe of the
power which has been displayed, and graft
tudc for the direction in which it has been
exerted This, too is the season of self ex.
amination and man will seriously ask
himself the question, whether he has not
wandered farther from God and truth. than
he was year ago: whether he has not Of
ten yielded to temptation when little more
resistance would have vanquished the tempt
or, and whether he has not often sinned
when there was no temptation al all, but
only the impulse of his own lawIess and un-
controlled desires II will not be enough
for him TO ascertain that he is no worse Than
lie was before it should fill him with shame
and conjunction, if he be not perceptiJy
better and if his moral nature he not i'm
proved, he may I've sure that il has deferior-
aieG, for there is no such thing as a state of
moral rest. 1t is with human soul as with
boat propelled against stream; if the
progress of effort be relaxed moment, it
will go backward; and no man of any en-
Judgement of mind, or philanthropy of feel
ing, will think merely OF himself or Of his
own immediate friends. In accordance with
the Eoble senhmen; Of Terence, he will feel
himself a man. and he interested in what
ever relates to humanity. He will reflect
upon the great discoveries in srience and
The arts which have been made upon the
new light which has been shed upon moral
ana religious truth upon the more extend
cd diffusion OF the means Of happiness and
comfort, and the progress which the world
has made in sound thinking and good con-
duet, He, who takes this wide view, will
perceive much TO make him sober for
States and Empires have likewise their al
formations Of prosperity and adversely. Ma
iions may he sitting around in sackcloth and
nsnes' cities may have fallen into The Jaws
81 earthquakes, pestience and famine may
have unpeopled kingdoms, and The energies
OF countless millions may he running TO
waste Tor want OF the fresh air and genial
sunshine Of Liberty. He will find in such
rehectons source Of consolation for his
own sorrows; :or how poor and trfIipo must
they seem IN comparison with the affections
which throw whole realms into mourning.