Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-01

Fl
shores Of Tine, and enter With tho Chris
t;sa's passport, tho glad haven beyesd -
laughs hy.tRis years experiences how trail
are all easthly reeds, my heart, | trust, has
not been seh0olSl In vain And such IS the ;
years history to ns =
4 hand was Sid upon mJ brov--a dear
kiad VOICE was Breathing blessed words IN
my ear = words Of comfort and cheer 6o4
bless Inc aosherless = Aunt Morton spoke
long in that soothing strain, that. can never
sppcal In vain to the orphaned heart o.
better home beyond~-cf a 70 uuion aud 80
eternity of Bliss aud / rose up from her
feet that night, with quiet pervadlng peace,
to which nv heart had long been stranger.
And each sac IN that little circle had her
coufessioff to make; 10 ono the fight Of the
4 old year brought tho remembrance Of broken
\ vow9and words in the sand to another Z
\ peaceful lie and heart thankful for its mepf
pts haEsigqss hHs eaS E 0 ad ISHls
\ - ssi ~ Ls~rtly glad oEthls,
for many I1fear arc already weary. But
II there was another in our midst, . fair paie
i girl, who seemed like 6erald.augel bearing
II ustidings ofthc world 10 which she was rapid.
i " approaohing; Of her I will for few mo
mcnts speak,
4 Cousin Helcd,s head had rested waarily
asainstethe easy chair, which had been wheel.
cd to the warmest nook, ana over her slight
H form the graceful Iadia shawl was gathered
1 in heavy folds. "A shade Of anxiety passed
over Aunt Morton's usually plated face as hst
II gaze rested almost sadly on the lar guild girl.
and We were all very stu when her low mild
\ voice broke upon the ear in reply Nh
Il This Gar, dear aunt, las brought mo
v q message To 60 home; token has been Civ
ep me, and by that token | know full we'll
H my hours on earth are all numbered that tho
4 path tread has but few steps onward, and
\ those lead iuto an~open grave This year
! has taken the bloom from my cheek and tho
| light from my eye, and it has placed there
| Instead, the hectic flush and the fever glow /;
1 and it has Witnessed tbe strong hard struggle
i ofmy clinging heart ere it could unloose tho
4 hold upon the world, aud contentealy 90
down to silence and, the grave; but, oh y
and Helen's face grew beautiful and her
| whole form trembled with its inward happi-
ness, better than all things else, this year
has brought ne peace ard JOY in believing
and a calm reliance upon the good Father
who is too wise to err The old year is pass
ing away, and with it 90 Gu erfully as the
tired cbild tarns hemeward whom night clo-
ses around the world Another year, and
the asme joyous group viii gather in this
room tho light laugh and merry jest will
ring out; on the cheerful wall will dance the
freight as cherily as tonight, and j will mol
'be hero, dear aunt. not anywhere near you
Another will occapy flis chair, aud the tread
Of busy feet and. the hum Of merry voices vii
echo sthrough the house, and all the worth
n will Coon as regularly as if such one Al
Ind never existed bat long ere then
will know the beginaing and end of all things
i aud on tLissweary sight, which tonight car
n scarcely bear the glare of yOnder lamp, vii
II Be unfolded the mysteries Of Infnity I and
the heart that is ROW trembling to the las
measure Of Life's music, will then be great
II A lush reigued through that little Assem-
blg-wo had no teWs to shed-no words t
glve-for we're we not treading upon bell
ground" listening to the voice of one 81
ready half immortal2
III 9 You have no fear, no doubt, Helen, deafI
III G Not any, dear aunt. the old year has q
ken ii away, and seep She continued, chess
fully. pointing to the hour-hand which no
!, trembled upon midnight-"eee, the ne
wear is. coming install We not~pray 70
strength to live Alright without fear Of sell
condemnation or distrustl Pray for strengt
- die m serenity--calmly trusting in, an
implicitly relying upon the promises Of tina
II mighty Parent whose most blessed attribus
is Love2n l.
i Whilowe bowed in the quietudo Of unspc
VI ken prayer. the new year crossed the thres
I'll hold and stole in among us, and we rose ri
f cheerful and happy, bearing away goldei
II hopes and holy blessings with which to ents
n upon the glad New Year.
N El.r,tk fnrL Pn -. y H.