Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-01-28
Miscellany.
THE PAST AND TIE NEW YEAR.

1E All AMI LIE NEW IiAR.
The close Of thc.year, whose las: kncll is
heard, amid the chills and gloom Of winter,
when all around reminds us Of our departed
friends and the loss we have sustained, is Pc
euilarly adapted to arouse US from our mat
tentlon 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, may expert
ence arush of bitter feeling, as they fondly
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 proved false or ungratctul--how
many of their suns have gone down in the
gloon Of solitude, or amid scenes of sickness
and poverty, or of signing 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,
yet millions have been spending the year in
peace and joy-in health and abundance
Their journey has been gladdened with sun
shine, and their course has been through fields
Of beauty and beside sthe still waters of COM
fort 1t is usefnl-it is species of graft
tude thus TO look back and trace tile course
we have been pursuing. If it has been de-
lightful, or smooth and peaceful, our hearts
should melt in tenderness while we look to
the fountain Of all our blessings. If our
course has been wearisome through fields of
sterilty, or melancholy aud companionless,
we should remember that wisdom and good
ness preside over our destinies, whether we
are breastlng the storm, or calmly beholding
the rainbow of promise. The year that is
bidding us adieu, was pleasant in its course,
and in its decline gradual and beautiful. An
unusual degree Of softness distinguished its
autumn, resembling the last years of the life
-of man, when the agitation of the passions
has III great measure subsidized; when his
feelings have become tranquillized, and all a
round him peaceful and serene, if he has
been careful to regulate his conduct, on lifc's
journey, by the principles of justice and the
commands ofduty-ifi in his social intercourse
his passions have been preserved in due sub
lection to the gentle influences of a benevo-
lent heart, displaying itself in acts Of mercy
like the good Samaritan.
"Sure the last end
vi the good man is peace. How calm his exit I.
Night dews fall not more gently on the ground,
Nor weary, worn out winds expire so soft"
the new year to which we are just to be
introduced Is, In one sense, a 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 oil It's character, leading us TO antici-
pate its promises and its failure to perform
them In many lnstances-its smiles and its
tears--its batteries and its frowns-its paie-
ties and hopes--iis gradual decline, decay
and dissolution: but we have abundant rea-
son too FOR indulging the belief that we may
enjoy thousands Of blessings, if we are dis
posed to cherish proper feelings--to be kind