Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-01-17
NO. 81.
JANUARY. THE FIRST MONTH.

There have been variety OF methods OF
reckoning the year in different ages, and in
different portions of the world. 1t seems most
natural to commence it in the spring, when ma
ture is commencing all her work anew; and
this was the custom of the ancients. There
fore in epumerating the signs of the zodiac,
we always commence with Aries, which rep
resents March, instead of with January: for
in most things appertaining to astronomy, we
follow the method of the ancients.
Aquarius, the sign which is used to typify
the first month of the year, is represented as a
man pouring water out of an urn. This is be-
cause the winter is a season of rains, instead
| of SHOWS in those southern countries where
the years first divided into months con-
sequently the pouring out of water, was. 10
| them fit representation of January. The word
January, which is the Latin name for gate,
and was doubtless so called, because January
was supposed to OPEN the year. Janus, who
was worshipped by the ancients the god of
gates, and avenues, was represented with two IA
ces; one of old man looking back upon the
past, and the other OF young man, looking
forward with hope, to the future: beautiful
symbol, we think, for the commencement of
the year. It in the reign of Numa Pomp-
illus, that January was fixed upon as the month
| to commence the year and its name, and SYM
bolic signifcation were then given to it. 1t
was chosen because it commences soon after
the winter solstice, the shortest day, which
occurs on the 21st of December. From that
that time the days grow gradually longer un-
til midsummer; so that the year may be said
=, ol,., -
"
'.CopY-''-This word has somehow become
to be the peculiar property of the Deyil-the
printers Devil we mean-and the special ter
ror OF weary editors. But it has significance
| the world over, if one will only think of it.
''Copy," murmurs the happy mother, with
| her first born on her knee, as she finishes for
the thousandth time the pcrusal of the little
meaningless face with its unspeculatiye eyes.
| But she reads more in ii than the neighbors
dream of. She sees in it d Shook of Beauty"
With its fathers brow, its mothers lips there
! it is, the sweetest copy in all the world.
The child is man-the young mother
tottcring old woman, and she looks up with
| dim and fading eyes into the face Of her long
absent SON, again she murmurs .scopy-just
as his father looked years and years ago."
| That man is struck down like some tower,
by "a touch from heayen,' and they lay him
| gently in the bosom OF the earth The moth
er is there; she was an only son, and she a
widow" and the swelling turf hides him
| from all eyes, she throws up her old hands
despairingIy, and sighs, $50 passes away the
only copy this world contains.''
When the great and good go Oh hefnre, and
| stand gazing upto heaven and we turn sadly to
the places made vacant and we think who re-
mains to fill them, we cannot repress the tho't
and it is copy still. And 50 it is all over the
world. Smiling, they whisper it; triumphant,
they utter it; weeping they breathe it.
--
MRs. PARTNGToN or MARRIAGE.--sslf ever
I'm married, y said Ike, looking from the book
he was reading and kicking the stove door TO
energetically, Iii ever I'm nlarried'-sDont
speak of marriage, Isaac, until you're old
enough to understand The bond that binds
congenial souls. People mustn't speak OF
marriage with impurity. 1t is the first thing
children thinks of now days, and young boys
| in pinafores, and young girls with their heads
fricasccd into spittoon curls, and full Of love
sick stories, are talking of marriage before
they are out Of their teens. Think of such
ones getting married? +? Yet, there's Mr..
Snaid, when heaven took his wife away, went
right to young lady's cemetery and got
another, no more fit to be the head of faIni-
Iy than am to be the Board of Mayor and Al
dermen.' She trapped the new box that her
friend, the Colonel, had given her. with her
eyes resting upon the gold heart inlad in the
centre of the lid, as if hearts were trumps in
her mind at the time, while Ike, without fin
ishing his sentence, kept on with his reading.
accompanying himself with a pedal perform
ance on the stove door, and clatter upon the
round of his chair, with the handle Of a fork
in his left hand.
VERDICT or A \ EGRo ISoUEsr.-ssWe de un-