Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-01-03
ruE HOLIDArS.

ioclnR, when tn0 So"s o''1
s,e wont to turn aside from the weighsier mat
,e,s Of life, and tighten the burdened heart,
and refresh the dropping spirit, by the social
interchange Of those kindlier and holier feel
ipes aud duties which, in the hurry and Ok.
ci,erpen. Of daily life, are two much neglected.
and forgotten.
And nigh. we'll i, is that this period comes
a,all-a. least once in a swelvemonth. There
should be some regular periods in the lapse OF
,ime-eome points 10 CUR life's weary pilgrim
aoe-when we can pause upon our journey
and, forgetting alike our joys and Sorrows
compare notes with such as are prosecuting
the same journey as ourselses-join in the
song Of ioy with such as kind Providence
has preserveu Iron MUS, dflllcuve i1is-nli"si1
,he holy tear ofsympa.hy with the grief-strlck-
m cnes arou nd us-b:d the rose bloom again
u,on the pale cheek Of the starving children OF
wan,-dry up the tear drops in the eyes OF
those who mourn-bid the pulse Of the sick
md weary return to its healthful music
and the hearts of the widow and fa.herless
leap again for Joy. ~.
And what season better suited 10 the per-
f.rmapce of deeds Of active benevoIence and
love than the anniversary Of the birth OF Him
no came TO proclaim peace and good Will
10 4.en''-and whose whole life was an active
a,.es.s.iop to the divinity of his MISSIONS he
came to spread abroad over the face OF earth
lha. reign of peace and love known once in
Eden-to obliterate all traces Of the foul ser
rents trail--disenlhrall man from the yoke
Of wreicbedness and sin-and certainly the
festival Of Christmas. and all tina. portion OBJ
served as the holiday season Of the year, should
be no hollow and hearlless one. Ii is moss
appropriate season for deeds Of benevo'ence
and charity, and each should therefore come
laden with peace and love-each should scat
ter 10Y and consolation from its wings, and
each, ct lis departure, should leave fsesher
bloom upon the earth-a brighter light in the
eve Of man. and purer atmosphere around
his heart. So would be yearly witnessed
bright epoch in the history Of man.
But how forcibly are we reminded, BY the
return of this anniversary, that we have all
numbered another OF the seventy years aIlot-
ted TO man az the measure Of his pilgrimage
in time, and have made one advance farther
towards our final resting place-that Spirit
land i" from whose bourne no traveller returns
Ever ,ireless and unres,ing is the wing of
Time. Year after year rolls with fearful rapid
i,y away, and, in it's silent fight, scatters
much of sorrow, and somewhat Of joy. along
life's pathway. And here. upon the very
Threshold of the year that has just commen.
ced, let US calmly and briefly review some OF
The events that have marked the career of that
whose knel has just been rung, and whose
funeral dilge the wild winds are now singing
as they sweep mournfulIy along.
Though the year from whose bier we have
scarcely yet turned away has not been unus-
ually marked by the breath Of that pestilence
that awaken in darkness and wasteth by
noonday," yet to how many has the golden
thread of life been severed-how many have
gone 10 sleep the dreamless slumber Of the
grave. The silky locks Of childhood, and the
siIvered mead Of age, lie side by side in the
dark charnel house. Many OF the friends that
wept around the bier Of each have turned care
lessly and forgetfully away. while in the
hearts Of others the memory Of the departed is
cherished most ienderly. Most Of Us find that
in our common pursuit., Of happiness we have
chased gay and gilded toys that would either
elude our grasp or turn to ashes at our cage
touch. OF how many fond and ardent hopes
has the past year proved the unwelcome ~
ulchre. How thickly strewn has been our
pathway with the shattered wrecks Of brilliant
plans and cherished purposes. How few OF
those splendid visions which, at the COM
mencement Of the year, decked our future and
seemed so rich in promise, have proved to be
pure and glorious realities. How many from
whose lips fell the fairest and loudest vows Of
love and friendship, when our Gun shone
brightly and our hearts were happy, have
stood firm and faithful in. the hour Of peril and
cf danger. To whom has the close Of the past
wear fulfilled the promises of its begining-so
whom has the silyery voice Of Hope not some
times proved the song Of the Siren that charms
but TO mislead.
But though our hearts have known mucn
soJrow-and though Time has left some foot
p,ints upon our brow-none Of US can feel that
HE LOT has been all evil. 10 the cup of each
have sometimes flashed and sparkled ahe rich.
ess draughts Of pleasure which proved not the
Marah NJ iars of hilfernesa 10 the faale. hnl