Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-01-27
from The New-TOrk Evancrlist1
Tie Last Years Card. Basket.
Ii YRS. n. Z. DOUBLEDAY.

! ~ Ahs a. Z hOlbLspN
According to usage, the basket contain
, ing the cards left during the closing year
is to be empsicd Of its contents, the memen
toes of past social intercourse, that it ma,
be ready for the tokens Of The future. An.
as this work, during the busy preparation
for the new year, is generally allotted t.
the most idle and useless OF the inmates o
the parlor, it has for 4 few years devolveC
upon US. We like it well. We like to lool
over each card, and recall the past-tht
circumstances and the persons connected
with it. Yet we shrink from committin,
to the fiemes, or the entire destruction Of
any token Of remembrance or kindness
from those we have known and loved and
thus we lingcr sadly around the basket
laying aside, we know not with what pur.
pose, many cards, and falling into long
reveres, as they recall to us the history
Of those who left them.
Located before the bright CRATE, while the
girls are busily arranging the furniture
and ornaments Of our littl. parlors, that all
may wear the best aspect on the first day
ofrhe year,we carefully proceed, meanwhile
hecdful of the admnnition not to let the
asLes of the paper fall on the polished fen.
der or mantcl ornaments
And the first card lis it ominous y with
its black edgc,is the invitation TO funeral
of neighbor, not an acquaintance. Yet
day after day had we noted the man. The
/ tall form growing a:tenuated, more bowed,
the face more pale and death like, while the
active business of life was still pursued
still he was buying and selling.and making
gain, and laying plans for the future. Then
for few days we missed his going and
returning, at morning, and at even-tide-
and one morning the bell rang, too early
for a visitor, and Biddy returned with the
card-"To Mr.. --'s funeral he died
last night" The undertaken served death,
and, ike his master. he never waited for
ceremony.
We could not mourn stranger. but We
felt for the bereavei wife and children !;
and the death Of one however slightly
known CONVEYS shock And then came
the thought, Was our neighbor ready for
the summons Had he sought that prep
aration which alone can avail? And how
might We have influenced his destiny2 If
there seemed little probability of any good
as resulting from direct personal address
from stranger, we still knew that living
so near, he must feel the imperccptble yet
all-pcryaiing influence Of the daily life,'he
habi.aal conversation and we felt that so
far as We had failed in all the demands of
the holy life, the entire conservation Of the
soul to the service of Christ, due from all
who profess his name, so far had our inhu-
encc been evil, even upon one 50 little
known. We know that the Christian,
surrounded by an atmosphere Of deep spi-
rituality, and true holiness, exerts an all
pervading influence, deeply felt where he
may be little known.
And here is a very different card The
extremes Of life love to meet A bit of
white satin ribbon tied round the envelop,
tells of a wedding card. And very pretty
bride we found, and very pleasant was the
contrast Of her shy and timid happiness,
with the open, frank and gay good humor
of the fine, manly bridegroom.
This was one Of the earliest cards of the
season. And few weeks since we repeated
the visit, and found something carefully
wrapped in cambric and soft flannel, even
pretticr than bride in orange wreath and
satin. And while maternal love impaired
swceter and holier expression 10 youthful
beauty, the young fathcr regarded the mo-
ther of his child with depth of tenderness
he had never bestowed upon the blooming
bride
We will lay this card aside ; no other
will follow it. She has left but name
and Il memory, and both will soon pass
away. A young girl-just entering We
manhood, with all the bright hopes, the
joyful assurances, the fond anticipa'ions
that gather around the young heart. Very
fair she was, with a rich bloom and delicate
teeth glittering in whiteness,
and eyes softened by tenderness and brigh. /,
tened and radiant with joy and mirth Yet
even then we noted the slight cough, and
assumed the privilege of the old woman
that Of giving counsel, sure Of being des-
pised-and thus We protested against her
thin shoes and exposed arms on that damp
and chill day.
But we were laughingly assured that all
our solicitude was unnecessary. She never
minded cold I; nothing hurt her; she was
used to thin shoes, in all sorts of weather;
she hated ovcrshoes, wished India-rubber
had never been invented, thick soles we're
50 clumsy she would risk getting sick. !!
And so she did We heard of her at
parties and conccrts-very well, but rather
hoarse: unable to sing, but ready to dance