Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-19
THE CLOSE OF THE WEEK.
lrJ-DnAv WIGHT

p When ae gude turn aye deserves anither.
THE CLOSE OF THE WEEK.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
SAt length his homeIy hut appears in view
Beneath the shelter Df an aged tree,
Th' expeetin wee things: todIin' stacher through
To meet their dad in Pickering noise and sIee;
His wee bit ingle blinkin' boBnilIe,
His clean hearth-stone-ils thrtie witie's smile.
The lisping infant prattlinr on his knee,
Does all his weary kiough and care beguile,
And makes him quite forget his labor and his toll.
What vast multitudeS of the human
family look forward with agreeable anti
cipations to the close of the week The
toilers throughout the na.ions NAV be
counted by millions. They are compelled
to eat bread by the sweat of the brow.
They 60 forth from day to day to their
various avocations often cheering, buoy
ant and elastic in spirits; but sometimes
weary, feeble and depressed. And when,
too, age steals on, with it's decrepitude
and care-when the hair is whitened and
the form is bowed-when there is many
mouths to feed at home-when food and
raiment and firewood are required-and
then, too, as is often the case, sickness
and death enter tine abodes of the hum
BILE and the poor, the fortunes of mere
laboring man, one who is compelled to
depend upon the earning of each day for
daily bread, may well be imagined as
fraught with no little anxiety, solicitude
and apprehension. To the independent
or the affluent, the morrow has few cares.
comparatively speaking. They look for
ward with confidence, and are only So
licitous as to the most agreeable mode of
passing their time. Every day to them
is holiday, and they are disturbed by
few of the anxieties which are connected
with the necessities of existence. But not
so the multitude who are dependent upon
their sinewy arms and their physical
strength, and who are compelled to labor
on from month to month, and from year
to year, in kind of ceaseless round of
toll. Fortunately, the great majority of
all such take the world lightly, nerve
themselves to their various positions, and
without pondering too deeply upon the
time to come, its chances and changes,
they laugh the hours away merrily and
cheerfully, and indulge in the blessed
pullOSppIly Ol COuteltIlleilu
In this country, moreover, and in sew
eral others, they have their many social
enioyments, their family festivals, their
kindly companionships, and thus are Of
ten as happy, nay, more SO, with their
limited means. than many who are bask-
ing in the favors of fortune and the sun
shine of worldly prosperity. 1t is well
that it is SO. There must be great va
ricty of fortunes among the sons of men,
and the wise policy is for each to adapt
himself to his condition, to enjoy the COM
forts and the blessings that are within his
reach, and toindulge in 10 necessary muir
murs, because another appears to be more
prosperous or more felicitous in his world
ly progress. But to all who are COM
PEELED to toll, who are doomed, as it were,
by the necessities of position, the respon-
sibilities of family, and the requirements
of family, and the requirements of every
life, to SO forth into the crowd on Monday
morning, and to struggle on throughout
the week-how reviving, refreshing, and
consoling must be the return of each Sat
urday night How many gentle asseca-
tions are connected with that happy
period, and the long and soothing repose
of the ensuing Sunday, For one night at
least, sleep may he enjoy, without any
anxiety as to the toll OF the morrow. The
mind and the body may like experience
renovation, and nature, worn and exhaus-
ted, recover something of her wonted
strength and her former elasticity. The
family circle too-how apt arc the mother
and the little ones to look for some pecu-
liar mark of kindness and goodwill, to
seek for indulgence in the outdoor world
some place of entertainment and enjoy
ment, OF to mingle together in some in
nocent festivity at home. 1t should be
the duty of all who have influence and
position, who occupy responsible sta
ton as the head of household, who are
looked up to and respected, to beauify
and consec.atc these delightful periods
on the way-sidc of fexistence-these pauses
and resting places on the hillside of life
these green and sunny spots in the jour
ney of the world, by some act of kind
ness, gentleness, affection and friendship.
The close of each week should be brigh-
tened and bcautitied by some significant
manifestation and thus it would be
looked for longingly and lovingly, and
turned to again and again in after-time,
as period touched with more than ordi-
nary brightness, and gladdened and beau
titled by some peculiar charm.
We have often looked with interest at
the children of toll, as they have hurried
nome from their daily tasks, on Satur-
day afternoon or evening. A lighter step
than usual, a brighter eye and a more
cheerful spirit, are ever apt to character
ize them They feel that they have thrown
by the implements of toll, and the anxi-
etics Of labor, for at least one day, and
they look for a warmer welcome at home,
and richer smile, for there are few who
at such a season, do not bear with them
some little tribute of affection, or are not
prepared to manifest their generous and
kindly feelings, by some gentle and be-
coming act. The laugh with the sacred
precints of the household, is ever more
joyous Oh Saturday night. It's period
when the heart overflows, when its nat
ural impulses and instincts have full vent,
and when neighborly visits and friend
chipS are indulp pad and an;o1,ad ap1 MANY,