Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-31
The New Year.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR,"--These are
pleasant words; words that are alwys uttered
with pleasant, if not with joyful feelings
Throughout the length and breadth of ciSili-
zation from the lips of happy children, young
men and nader ms, brothers and sisters, faith
ers and mothers, friends and neighbors. in
the family circle, on the street, in the store;
everywhere will these sweet words be utter
ed; Happy Nsw Year." To some, it no
doubt will be happy year; while to others
it will be year OF suffering, of sorrow and
death. "For thou knowest not what day
may bring forth"
The occurrance of this day. more than a>y
other, is calculated to bring to- remembrance
scenes of by gone days, and lead the mind to
the contemplation of the future. The past! !!
How many would blot it out forever, if they
could. To such it shadows forth dark, and
gloomy future Crimes committed, time was
ted, talents unimproved, duties neglected, the
conscience scared, the soul polluted, and God
dishonored. To this class, review OF the
past, creates hell within, of regret, shame,
and condemnation; already they feel the
gnawng of the worn that never dies" The
soul sickens at the remembrance of past folly,
and turns to look into the future; but the
dark cloud which hangs over the past extends
toward to eternity. Alarmed, it awakes from
its revery, and looks for some bright spot,
where il may rest but in vain. No rest from
review ofthe past none in the contempla-
tons of the future "There is no peace saith
my God, to the wicked"
The pastl What crimes have been com
mitted; the innocent have been murdered
character has been slandered-yirtue has been
sacrificed. and many. who have been honored
and beloved, have, during the past year pung-
ed themselves by iutemperance. or some 9TH
er vice, into the vortex sf Obstruction
The pastl How many. whose lips year
ago, pronounced to friends beloved, the pleas
ant words" Happy peU Year" now sleep
in death. How many parents have followed
their sweet little ones, TO the lone gra:e
Companions have been separated. The dear
est ties bave been broken assunder. The ange
Of death has been abroad IN the land Mour
ming, and lemantaton has been heard in ma
ny. otherwise happy homes. "Rlchel weep
ing for her children. and would not be com
forted, because they are not"
But is there nothing in the remembrance
Of the past that is pleasant? o yes, tc thinl
Of cbildhood's happy hours, is pleasant; thcsl
were days Of innocence. Who does not love
: to think otthe person, the prayers, and tears o
ssinted mother; of the sweet words she us
ed to utter, and the fayorte hymns she wa,
: ever want to sing. Motherl dear mother
shall we moet again? Has our life. been
life ofindustry ? have we relieved the suffer
A ing? have we fed the hungry and clothed tn
: uaked7 Have we 'gone about doing good 2
), Have we "lived in all good conscience? !?
Have we kept ourselves "unspotted from tn
world?" Ifso, then will the remembrance
as the past be pleasant; and ii shall shed
/ halo of glOryiupOn the future. e
q Purity and virtue alone, can constitute
!. happy. Would you have happy New Yea
!, ia happy life, ahappy death. and hapP
:, ! eternity then let purity and yir.ue dive
u richly in your heart
To all, we say, Happy New Year" b
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