The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-01-10
For the Free Trader
The Past, and the Future,

'Tls the last night Of the Old Year On thus
night some A nthor says, "An Archangcl visits
the Universal Galaxy, and gives each star lis pc
cullar charge. The destnies of men and Em'
plres are then portoned forth for the coming
year, and unconsciously 10 ourselves, our iates
become mirrored in the stars. The dark gates
Of time open to receive the ghost Of the dead
year, when the young and radiant stranger rush
es forth from the clouded chasms of Eternity.
This young and inexperienced stranger comes
laden with gifts for us all; they may be bright
and sparklng--they may be dark and witberlng
we know not which Is for US; II our present
pathway is smooth, Our sky clear; II the stars
are shining above us, the flowers blooming a.
round u.s. we should be humble, and show our
thanks to "Ihe Glyer Of eyerj good and perfect
Gift" by permitting the light Of his blessings to
US to shine upon the shadowy pathway OF those
/ less fortunate than ourselves Those who DO
good to their fellow beings are Godlike, and are
serving God; for he is kind to all, and iorb'ds
! that we should Judge one another; bat those who
Judge others by their impure hearts or dark
en- a fate already dark are also serving their
master, after whose image they are made, and
verify they will have their reward.-But who
could envy such n being, however high their sta
/ ton.
| Fifty One is passing away; its last moment Is
near-A long farewell to thee, Old Year
I've given thee smiles, and many tear.
| May thy mem'ries be stars 10 our future sky,
/ And ilow'rs in our pathway that never die
While we stand upon its threshold, gazing
anxiously, vet yainly, into its hidden mysteries
let us carefully review tie Past, and then We
need not look III vain Joyfuly or sadly we may
7 al u. r l.nF
/ find ALL even to ts least petal, written full, The
heart keeps its most secret and sacred journal
( there and its review may lie sweet or it NAV be
very bitter and deeply painful. As the Poet
says, There is 10 greater griof than to remem
Der Joy, when misery is a, hand But the hut
/ Christian will fnd some pleasure even in sorrow
| by drawing from it n needfu lesson for the Fu
turc
! il the histories Of men and nations which have
passed away may be Light houses" to thos,
who are now struggling on the "bowy ocear o
life showing them how to stem their way safe
7 ", avoiding lts "Soyla and Chary bdis," may no
| the history Of every heart be a sapient and saw
ing lesson 10 its possessor
When the Present is to us a blank and ,h,
Future 10 darkened by broken and blighte,
hopes We gladly turn to the Past and live on ~
memories,
"Th| their pleasures and joys are o.! fed
Like flowers, whose fragrance is left,
When their beauty IS faded and dead"
They become to US garden apot on whicl
We lngcr long, cherishing It's plants, and water
| ny the favorite ones with Our tears, preserving
each dead leaf as it falls, to lay up in "memory
! treasure house" as the hearts brightest gems
which even in their decay, are often sweeter tt
VS. than al! the brigkt fresh flowers that may
| hereafter spring up an our p"th--sorrows, too
must b. garnered there, and may be usefally re
membcred, but if tley are not the fruits Of on
own sins of commission or omission, then memo
~ will not be bitter nor leave any pain. Oh
who would roll the "Lethean Wave over tn,
Port, however YEARLY may have passed many
Of It's months and yeats.
"1here will be some ray or sion Of light,
Tho fleetlng and transi.n, its ray,
! Like the glt niu ut a star on drcary night,
Which cheers tie heart, tho passed away"
We speak, we think, we dream Of future JOY,
and happiness; but they are only the web:
which fancy spins from our own hearts the fu
ture receives its coloring, whether the tints be
! gloomy or glorious, Joyous or sad. The present
/ Is, and tie past VAS been ours, but We are surC
ofnc futprt, save that which lies above and he
yonl this life, to prepare for which is our dut,
here and we cannot select better time tC
commence than with the New Year. Let u.
look over our accounts with God then, will
ponitcn' but trusting and hoping hearts, lay then
at the !cet Of Jesus, acknowledging the dgJtS W,
can never pay, and plead for pardon until VI
feel It's given, and we have reason to hope fo
! fui,ue bliss, as well as to tc,ncmhcr past happi
ness. then We shall find our dcstinies pO.toncC
forth according to our own deeds, and not n
Eulwcr says. according to the dictates of oul
own particular star" which may light our pati
way on earth but not to Heaven STELLA"
Ottawa, Dec. 81, 1851.