Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-02
THE PAST AND THE NEW YEAR.
nr CHIEF JUSTICE MILLES, OF MAINE.

Nj GHiEf JooltSh MhLLEN, VT mAiNEs
The close of the year. whose last knell
is heard, amid the chills and gloom Of
Winter, when all around reminds US Of our
departed friends and the loss we have sus.
tanned, is peculiarly adapted 10 arouse US
from our inattention to the lapse of time,
and impress on our hearts the solemn truth
that life itself is but a vapor. Many, it is
true, when they look into the grave Of the
| year, may experience a rush OF bitter feel
ing, as they tondly recollect how many
cherished hopes they have been called
upon TO bury in the tomb, during the lapse
of the year how many friends have pro-
we'd false or ungrateiul; how many OF
their SONS have gone down in the gloom
of solitude, or amidst scenes of sickness
and poverty, or OF signing and row
All this is true, and such ever has been
and ever will be complexion Of human
life. But, though thousands are thus edu-
Gated IN a school where such is the salu.
tary discipline, yet millions have been
spending the year 10 peace and joy-ln
health and abundance. Their journey
has been gladdened with sunshine, and
their course has been through fields Of
beauty, and beside "the still waters of
comfort" 1t is useful-it is a species of
gratitude thus TO look back and trace the
course we have been pursuing. II it has
been delightful, or smooth and peaceful,
our hearts should melt in tenderness while
we look to the fountain of all our blss.
sings. If our course has been wearisome
through fields of sterlllty, or melancholy
and companionless, we should remember
that Wisdom and Goodness preside over
our destinies, whether we are breasting
the storm, or calmly beholding the rain
bow of promise. The year that has bid
us adieu, was pleasant in its course, and
in its decline gradual and beautiful
An unusual degree of softneSs distinguish
ed its autumn, resembling the last years
of the life Of man, when the agitation of
the passions has, in a great measure, SUBJ
sided wnen his feelings have become
tranquilized, AID all around him peaceful
and serene, if he has been careful TO re.
gulate his conduct, on LIES journey, by
Inc principles Of Justice, and the commands
of duty-iG, in his social intercourse, his
passions have been preserved IN due SUBJ
lection 10 the gentle influences OF a bene-
VIOLENT heart, displaying 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, WORKOUT winds expire so soft.
The new year, to which we are just
introduced, is, in one sense, a periect
stranger, though we have long been mt
mate with the family to which It belongs
and. of course, have some general ac-
quainiance with certain features oil lis
character, leading us TO anticipate It's pro-
misses, and its failure to perform Them IN
many ins,ances-its smiles and It's tears
Ills batteries anu It's frowns-lts gaieties
and hopes-its gradual declihe-oecay
and dissolution but We have abundant
reason. too, for INDUCING the belief thai
we may enjoy thousands oil blessings y.
we are disposed to cherish proper feelings
to be kind, and courteous, and oblig'ng'
and ever on our guard to avoid unneces-
sarily woundlng the feelings oil DINERS
ever ready TO acknowledge the lavors we
receive, and render a suitable return.
How easily all this may be done! How
often is It grossly neglected He who
consults his own epse and comfort. can
not, in any Manner, attain the desired re-
suit. so readily and certainly, as by habl-
tually consulting the ease and comfort Of
Others, with whom he is in the habit Of
associsting: and this is true Politene's al