Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-12-29
MI SOC Il L \ ~ e o
From the German of Richter.)
NEW YEARS. NIGHT or AN UNHAPPY NlN.

An old man stood in the New Years Night
al ms window, and looked with glance of
fearful despair up to the imnuvcable, ever
blooming heavens, and down upon the still,
pure white earth, on which was no one So
sleepless and so desolate in soul as he. For
his grave stood near him ii was copcrtR with
the SHOWS OF old age, not with the green TO-
lage Of youth; aud he had brought out of a
rich life nothing but errors, sins, and diseases ;
wasted body, desoate soul, a breast fall of
poison, and an old age full of remorse. To-
day, the beautiful hours of his youth reap
peared like sPectres, and re-conveyed him TO
that lovely morning when his father first plac-
ed HIM upon the crossway of life, which leads,
OH The right, by sunny paths Of virtue, into a
large quIe, land full of light and harvest; but
on the left, plunges down into the mole
walks OF existence, and black cave, full of
Disabling Poisons, hissing snakes, and dark sui
try vapors.
Alas The snakes were hanging on his
breast, and the drops of poison we're on his
tongue; and he knew now where he stood.
Distracted with irrepressbe grief, he called to
the heavens
Give back TO me my youth! O., Father
place me again upon the cross-way, that may
choose aright!'
but his father and his youth were long
since gone. He saw the ignes-fatui, dancing
upon marshes and disappearing upon Gene
lrles, and OF which he said "Thcse are my
iooiisii days" He saw star flying from hea.
ven, and glntering in lis fall, vanish upon the
earth. Thus am said his bleeding heart,
ana the snake's-ieeth of repentance probed still
deeper and deeper into his wounds His fam
ing imagination showed HIM flying ghosts
tory al, r..
mali lifted It's threatening arms for destruction
and skull, having been left behind in the
aead-house, assumed gradually his features.
In the midst of the struggle. the music of the
new year flowed down from the s,eeples ike
!ar-of church-inclodes
Ills emotions began to soften. He looked
around the horizon, and abroad ON the far
extended earth, and thought the friends of his
youth who, now happier and better than he.
were teachers Of the earth, and fathers of hap
Ply children and blessed men. He said %. i!
! might also slumber like YOU with dry ewes
this first night of the year Alas my dear
parents should now be happy had follow
Ell your preceptsp
In the feversh remembrances Of youth, i,
appeared TO him as if the skull with his fea-
lures, Ill the house Of the dead, appraised IT,
self and at length, by that superstition which
in the New Years Night sees spirits of fulu-
rty, became living youth.
AT last, he could look upon it no more
lie covered his eyes a thousand hot tears
sireamed and vanished in the snow; and Inc
sighed In accents scarcely audible 'Return
youth return
And it DID return. 1t was a horrid dream
lie was yet youth his errors only were nc
VISION. Buthe thank ed God that while Young
he was able to shun the Ioalhsome walks o
vice. aud turn into the sunny path which lead:
| TO The land of harvests Return with him
! young reader, if thou art standing with hin
in the way ofe error. This terrific dream woulr
become thy future judge.--And if thou should
est call, Come back, beautiful yon,h p i
would no more re,,irp''