Democratic banner., 1846-01-03
THE NEW YEAR.

tcrnity, and a new one ushered in with all the de-
monstrations of gaiety, the usual accompaniment
Of New Year. That the world should rejoice at
the birth of a Savior is not wonderful, but why
it is that they seem disposedto eNult over going
and coming years, we know not.
Next to a funeral, this to us, is the most
mournful of all occasions. 1t reminds us IN iorcl-
bic language of the flight of time, which hurries
on unheeding the desolation which follows IN lis
tract; it tells us that we are one span nearer than
before to that sleep which knows no waking; 1t
portrays the intermelt in the dark vaults OF the
past: whatever we NAV have known of felicity, II
speaks. and oh. how bitter arc the words, OF the
last companion, the bosom friend, the child 'he pa
rent. who commenced with us the new year, Oh
the eve which then rested upon us WIN love "i'u
affection, of the hand which returned oe warm
pressure of friendships grasp, of the young 'ne
gay, the volatile, just launched upon the 'ee"io'
life, and who now have only a dwelling IL 'e
deep charmed houses of the dead.
Could the veil in which the history Of the hii-
man family for the last year has been enshrouded
be removed. what a fearful tale would it not tell
of human agony-the peace Of families uProo'ed
and scattered as cLaff by the winds, OF the blight
and mildew which have come over bright hopes.
OF fond and c~onfiding hearts which have seen 'he
last light upon the gloomy path of life ticker and
expire, leaving them fitting monuments for the
brand of desolation.
In the past wear have we not seen the child,
the beautiful child
Upon whose snowy brow, fancy in her dream had
set a coronet,
The loved of a fathers heart, the cherished
idol of a doating mother, who g%amboled and sport
ed in the morning Of life, clapping its tiny hands
in ~infantile elee, the glow of health upon ITS
cheek, and the smile of a cherubim upon us hps'
a hideous and revolving corpse, food Tor worms,
ere twilight had faded.
The last wear dawned upon a happy and con-
tented fanily, surrounded by all the comforts and
Injuries of life-this year beholds only the wreck
of what was once the home of happiness. Death,
the silent visitor has been at work, the charm of
that holy family circle las been broken, its head
has been snatched away, the mother has iaiien
before the car of the mighty conqueror---ail, all,
have passed away from that busy scene. The sun
of happiness has shed its last rays upon the IN
mates, it is now the home of desolation, the crick-
ct now keeps vigil upon the silent HEARTH and
wild weeds choke up the pass way.
The helpless heads which that roof once shell
tered. have been turned adrift upon the dreary
waste of life, to s.bide the peltings of the pitiless
storm" The rude current of the world has swept
over that fairy scene, and the "piaces which knew
them once shall know them no more"
These are some of the glories OF the past, over
which the booming cannon thunders,a and man rais-
es his weak voice to exult.
We cannot rejoice over that period which
unites within itself all that is mourniul, epherne-
rial and insignificant below.
Let those who feel otherwise visit with us the
last resting place Of man; they will there view
the utter wor,hlessne,s of that over which they
rejoice.
Yon little mound is now the home Of the infant
which we fondled e'er the leaves of summer had
faded; beneath the green sod Of yonder solitary
grave reposes the earthly remains of the bright
est and fairest of the daughters Of men, 'ha' "
so new, that the soils deep redhas not get changed
its color. holds now within its cold bosom, what DC
lonecd to the Senate House.
These are thy victories, insatiate past these Me
triunphs over which the mind of man fingers and
exults.
pI-pJIc
Richie & Heiss, have been elected printers to