The native American., 1840-01-01
THE PAST AND NEW YEAR.

THE PAST AND NEW YEAR.
ny CHI EFF JusTI cE MELLEN, OF MAINE.
The close OF the year, whose last knell is heard,
amid the chis and gloom of winter, when all
around reminds us Of our departed friends and
the loss we have sustained, is peculiarly adapted
to arouse us from our inattention to the lapse OF
time, and impress on our hearts the solemn
truth that life itself is but vapor Many, It IS
true, when they look into the grave OF the year,
NAV experience rush Of bitter feeling, as they
fondly recollect how many cherished hopes they
have been called upon to bury in the tomb, du.
ring the lapse Of the year; how many friends have
proved false or ungrateful-how many of their
suns have gone down in the gloom Of solitude,
or amidst scenes of sickness and poverty, or Of
siphinp and sorrow All this is true, and such
ever has been and ever will be the complexion
Of human life But though thousands are thus
educated in school where such is the salutary
discipline; vet millions have been spending the
wear in peace and joy--in health and abundance.
Their Journey has been gladdned with sunshine,
and their course has been through fields OF beau
ty and beside the still waters Of comfort. 1t
is useful-it is a species OF gratitude thus 10
look back and trace the course we have been
pursuing If it has been delightful or smooth
and peaceful, our hearts should melt in tender
blessings. If our course has been wearisome
through fields of sterility, or melancholy and
companionless, we should remember that Wis
dom and Goodness preside over our destinies,
whether we are breasting the storm, or calmly
beholding the rainbow Of promise. The; year
that is bidding us adieu, was pleasant in its
course, end it's decline gradual and beautiful.
An unusual degree Of softness distinguished its
autumn, resembling the last year OF the Lille OF
man, when the agitation Of the passion has III
great measure subsidized; when his feelings have
become tranqulized, and all around him peace
full and serene, if he has been careful to regulate
his conduct, on ifes journey, BY the principles
of Justice and the commands Of duty-if in his
social intercourse his passions have been pre-
served in due subjection to the gentle influences
of benevolent heart display Ing itself in acts of
mercy like the good Samaritan.
"Sure the last end
Of the good man is peace. How calm his exit!
Night dews fall not more gently on the ground,
Nor weary, worn-out winds expire so soit
The new year to which we are just to be in
troduced is in one sense, perfect stranger,
though we have long been intimate with the
family to which it belongs, and Of course have
some general acquaintance with certain features
of its character leading us to anticipate Its pro-
misses and its failure to perform them IN many
instances-its smiles and its tears-its batteries
and its frowns-its gaeies and hopes-its gra-
dual decine-decay and dissolution; but we
have abundant reason too for induigng the be-
lief that we may enjoy thousands of blessings,
if we are disposed to cherish proper feelings
to be kind and courteous and obliging, and ever
on our guard to avoid unnecessarily wounding
the feelings Of others; ever ready to acknowl-
edge the favors we receive, and render suita-
Bile return.
How easily all this may be done? How Of
ten is it grossly neglected he who consnlts
his own ease and comfort cannot in any man
ner attain the desired result SO redily and Ger
tainly, as by habitually consulting the ease and
comfort Of others, with whom he is in the ha-
bit of associating: and this is true politeness
also. man who is dissatisfied with himself
and those around him. and luboring under the
darkening influence of disturbed or morose feel
ings may travel from Dan 10 Beersheba and say
it is all barren;'-to him it will appear so, and
the effect would be the same if his journey lay
amidst the most delightful scenes of rural beau
ty The seasons Of the year all give their an
nual lessons for instruction: 1t is our wisdom to
regard them carefully. Spring summons us all
to cheerful activity, with assurances that our la
Dor will not be in vain. Summer performs what
Spring had promised and shews us the advant-
age Of listening to early instruction and wisely
improving it. Ten thousand songsters arc fill
ing the branches with their animaiing strains Of
music and gratitude, and teaching us to enjoy,
as they do, the countless blessings and bountles
of nature; their music is never iailing---nor Go
we see it ending in discords. Let US oil, as we
journey onward together through the year. learn
TO tune our hearts as they do their voices. and
pass the neeting period in harmony and in that
cheerfulness which the excellent A ddison has
honored with the name of continual expires.
sion of gratitude to Heaven. In Germany the
study and practice Of music are general among
the people. Besides other advantages resulting
from making music a part of common education,
In fhnl IL