Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-01-04
fwrittsn for the Wheeling InteIIiseneer.l
A Year Has Passed.
By JAMES W. DosLEE.

By JAMES W. BosLER.
Asyear has passed. But what is year3 IT'S
Itimes il is but single revolution Of the wheel OF
time; but speck in the ocean OF eternity. But
then, when we view that year os passed; wheDwe
stand unon the Threshold of the new, and look
hack and survey the incidents of those twelve,
short months, how different do they appear TO eve
ny one in the Whole wide range OF ''univerSal ex-
,stence!'' Each has his page of history 10 read.
If not recorded blythe historian, Il isengraven up
on the tablet of the memory. Each has perform
ed his part in the diana, and whether lie has step
ped from the scene, with the applause, or the-dis
approval Of the ''liStening crowd,' The prompt
ings OF his own heart can only'tell. To some it is
true, that ear has had but mere existence, like
Meeting blast it has passed lmoSt before they
knew 1t vas here. They have made that stride,
without one action 10 be remeEnberel; without one
single event 10 tell them in future years they lived
in ffty.three. To the woTShippers of LIES vain
pleasures, who care for netting but the halls oil
reyelry ami mirtl; who sick resort but the ball.
room and the bar; have no ambition but 10 excel
at the euchre table; and live for no puTpo e but
themseves-a year, it is true, will pass 'unnohced
and un[elt.' E.,.
Tell the condemned criminal that year must
pass before he can lave his liberty and be released
from his dungeon and his chains, aud you spread
ont an eternity before him, a,d that, too, filled
with crosses and disappointmentS, which almost
quench the spark of HOFE. Tell MIN that year
hence he shall pay the penalty OF his crime with
DEATH and the termination will appear already ut
hand. a s-., rg-..F
Behold that gentle being clad in the deep hubil-
imentS of mourning, and "beautiful even in her
tears" Although the eighteenth summer has
scarcely bloomed her existence, yet her brow uP-
pears furrowed by premature wrinkles, Tor sorrow
has left his impress there, and "Swept the lines
where beauty fingers" Look back Though the
dark vista Of those twelve months, and see her
there, light and blooming as the ''first rose of
spting," her eye sparkles with the hfe OF true ar
dent affection, as shells seated by the side oil fond
caressing lover, aud drinks in with an unquencha-
ing Thirst the careSSeS of affection, and the pledges
OF faith as they fail from his lips. See her as she
places that small white hand in his, and he swears
by the "eternal GoS' that they shall be separated
only by death Go ask her now what has been the
change OF year? 1
Or that frther, who one year ago sat dangling
upon his knee that darling only Child of Ii $ aftec-
tiOnS with naught but bright expansion OF hope
10 inspire his bosom, as lie pictured to his lmagin
alton his infant son, gradually rise f.om one STA
ton of TenOwn to another, AT one time he seats
him upon the chair of state; again, he henEs his
voice leverbrae through the halls OF learning, and
the historian graSpS his pen with eager haste TO re-
giSttr his name; again, he sees him seated upon
the car of wealth. or amid the ond din of the
battle field lead OH his victorious clan 10 receive
their laurelS. Behold him nOto, as he sits again
upon that same favorte seat. His tountenance
downcast and his brow contracted, as it hnrraSsed
neighborIng chIrchyard, and see there where the
The wild rose blossoms DER that little green grave
what changes year must have wrought in his
heart.
Or that half frozen orphan who appeared this
morning at your door, asking only the scenty Ie-
mains of New Years dinner to Satiate the craving
appetite OF astarving mother, could tell a tale that
would Tend the chords OF many heart.
| Again we look abroad, and see where but short
time since stood that proud palace OF wealth, be-
meath whose gorgeous roof the sons and daughter
Of fortune reveed in all their granduTe and luxury
and pride, smoking p lie of worthless ruins, and
inste1d of the gay laugh of mirth, We hear the
shrieking vail OF Disappointment
| The cherished home of that widowed mother
has been rendered desolate, for upon the burn ng
sands Of California bleach the homes of that chet-
ished son who one year ago, hid her last, final
farewell, with heaEL bouyant with hope, and a
cheek radiant with the rose tins Of hea tl sat out
i'll aIch of The idol oil his heart. n
The halls of Ienown, and the ranks of the great,
have too felt the impress Of year, and the voice
| OF many has been huShed, who upon the last am
versary of the New Year held The hstning word in
thence by the magic Of their genius. Great men
have passed away, and others have again been
born TO take their places, and seur for while the
light bark OF life for themselves. s.s.
| Nor have the pillars and supporters of our con-
| Gederacy i'll that year passed unnoiiced; but the
pride aud boast OF nation has felt its sensible i'm
press; WIN. R. KING has fallen; a bright light has
his cause up TO that tribunal from whence there
can be no appeal.
The boast OF Bera,dry, the pomp Of power.
And all that beauty, all that wealth ere gave,
Await alike, the enVabe hour; -r.g- rs
| The path OF glory leads but to the grave"
Wars aud rumors of wars have been, Empires
and Monarchies have been establish ed, and Kings
have trembled for their thrones, and rebel seTfs
have raised the banner of freedom; Aud yet but
year has pass d; but unit has been added to
the scroll; we have grown oder-hut have we
grown better?
And may we not here pause to consider, ii is the
dividing line between the past and the future; a
starting place for any goal we please; thousand
COURSES around uSi thousand courses to choose
from; aud yet but one that is right and worthy and
noble. Is it not worth while 10 pause alittle, and
enquire which OF allthe many that one isl May
we not enter upon the present year with renewed
energy and resolution, so that when FIFTY-FoU
shall have glided from The panorama, we may stand
$50 many Of us, shall have buffe'ed the tlae>
u.on the platform of FrFrH.FtvE, and look back
over the smnoth unrufIied surface OF fifty four,
with n conscience unstained, and an eye uITnoiSt-
ened by single tear of regret2
| WuEELING, Dec. 81, 1858.