Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-01
LIT e II a IL u L.
For he EnYu'rc,
TabIeaux Of the Children Of the Old Yenr.
WRITTEN BY JANE j.

WRITTEN BY JANE J.
The Ola Year lay on his dying couch, his breath
came cold and heavily, aud the saducss 81 dissolution
was around him. OF his twelve children, but one,
his Youngest, remained to watch btside him.
The AGED parent thought "f all his once blooming
children who had come to maturity and fallen, each
before it. successor took its place and sighed mourn
fully to the weeping December. "Oh my child, my
Youngest born dearly do love thee aud dearly have
loved all that have preceded thee. lhaye watch
ed with fond fathers eye, thor rapid development
and their equally rapid decay. have seen them ex'
jre gently and their parting breath has seemed mere
iy 10 he waited from their lips to animate another
form: for the moment Of death to one, was the instant
Of birth to another. Would tina, | could see them
mass in review before me! Would thnl could show
them TO thee Such vision would cheer my last mo-
1nrnts and soothe the agony III death.
IA he ceased, his child gaLcd upon his paid lea
rures and silver locks, and determined, il were pos
sibe, he should be Sratlfied.
She remembered to have heard her father speak OF
Memory the friend of his youth, who possessed The
power to bring back scenes of the past portraylng
them in such vivid characters that they appeared like
reality. III will seek her. niurnured she, "aud en-
treat ber by all her early friendship, to visit my ia
thor and grant his las, desire" Fuii OF this detern
nation she left the couch ot the then sleeping sut
f.rer and wandered forth in quest OF the stranger
She directed her steps u mountain, wherein she
knew was situated castle dedicated TO the Virtues
thinking there she would be most likely to meet with
her she soucht;-nor she mistaken in her cOn]nc
lures for upon entering the castle, aud asking for
Memory, she shown into AL unoccupicd apart.
ment antduey furnished. On looking round, she
nerceiyed the walls were hung with tapestry repre-
aentiug events that had occurred IN the earliest ages
nj the world, many of which are now only known ny
tradition. Tie high arched windows admitted the
light through staued glass that pictured scenes in the
days of the heather gods the seats were OF ancient
form and simplicity, sid the floor was lnlaid with
stone.
Soon her examination of tie was interrupted
nv the entrance of dgnitcd matron, who stood be-
fore her and demanded the object CT her visit
December, aBed by her appearance, rehaned tor
,,o,Lpnt Silent then, raising her eyes. bcaiIG with
f;lal lave to those N the stranger, she exclaimed.
.Oh Memory friend OF nay father III his early years,
conjure you now to near me: qua 10 gran! my re-
Year he is dying, and has spoken to me OF hls eleven
chill lren nv brothers and listers, whom have never
seen he longs behold them once more aud to show
Them TO me- You only can crafty hun. Come Visit
jia ,nuch | ept,.at you and sonthe his last mo-
,nents," She stopped, and brcahess with emotion,
awaited the rep y. Aeioy pleased with the earnest
ness of tho daughter. sGKt!isy sad ~ do reInen'
der NV old friend, your father, ma will grant the NJ,
quest 1f his child-with to-lnorr1ws twilight will
Se With you; till then farewell"
thankful and delighted, December retarneh home
to resume her watching.
A. the appointed hour Memory arrived and r;aa
erected with delight By the father and daughter. ~
come" said she, .'to fulfil my PROMISE aud to re.raI
10 your sight the forms oil the departed Permit that
leave you in darkness "iie pfepufe ''e 'epreSeh-
tatiaus. t,,
finn. She returned; curtain withdrawn aud te
Dld Year, raising himself upon his pillow beheld,
with December, tie FIRST tab!eau.
There stood before h., ~ in life, his rst-born son,
January. lie was young man, full OF viSor, win
,wo faces--oue was turred as II looking back into
.ha mast the other seemed 10 enquire o tho future
Around him was thrown white mantle, and his
crown was Of naked twigs. Old BoreaS. his m'isl-
clan, stood on side, IN the attitude OF blowing
hoars. music frola !is pipes, and On the Other vas
nIacsd an altar, he8ped with blazing fagots At his
f., Law the srs Of ;mGla and the ieeces rt rams In
A few moments the curtain dropped and. when again
was raised ,r second c:iiI but first daughter terua-
nv was presented. lie: profile bore resemblance to
her brothers front face but her features were more
dalicntp and her counenance wore an expression vi
soness and sympathy. She was seated by the side on
a sick rirl in the attitude OF bathng her tevcri>i
nrnw ON one aide the altar which she sacri-
tc.d 4, expat, the sins OF the people, and her foot
rested on sweet bcrlS, which she crushed to assuage
the pains of the suffering Her dress WAS Of Woo!
finely woven. end arosad her brow WAS Il wreath oi
evergreeus.
Next appeared. ia tic midst Of forest, the second
eon MARCH, habit"d IS a hunter. His countenance
exhibited the marks Of claugcIu disposition. The
brow was austere and the eye piercing, but around
the mouth played q sweet smile. His form was
athletic and displayed il its contour the strength of
,c,;y manhood for be loved the exercise o urnls.
we'll n. of the chase. His favortc animals, the horse,
the wolf aud the dog. near Kim, aud the pye,
the cock and the vuturo percEsd upon the tree
that oyerShadoWed num-
The fourth tableau brought before the gazcrs a
lovely maiden standing i'll green meadow, contem
plating her image as reflected In classy fl"ulet
which, flowing gently along, lost itself IN the maze:
nj a n.;ybborin" wood. Her bright eye beamed with
rladness; sweet smiles dimp!cd her cheeks her ons
Golden tresses were wreathcd with buds; rainbow
ncircled her head, and none we're 4" insensoe us h"
4. admire the beautiful but coquettish April.
Her gentle sist-r, May, succeeded, ana VINO car
paint her quiet beauty seen reclining upon n"sS.
rock, shaded by luxurant vine, which, tilugIng III
long waving branches from majestic tree REACHED
over the side of the rrL, and, fastening there It's ten
drils fG.ue, irasrat aGbor worthy the being whom
il shecredi BY her SIDE was u basket OF wild How
ers yet fresh wth the morning dew, from which sh
lad selected the ei!Dcest buds To twine wreath to
her own bright hrir; and her soft blue eyes, turned
unwards, were full Of tenderness and love.
Hroo pure too beautiful for earth, vast thou, IN,
darling Nay" whispered the Old Year. And Deceln
her sighed respousively. Aeraory waited moment u
n RI indulge the old man in his fond regrets, ani
,h.n presented to his view tic Queenly June.
Sha was walking in tastcfuty arranged garden
.rnvned with roses: her flowing robes Of azure an,
>yL;,, we're decorated with frsto"ns OF beautiful an
fra,r,ut aowers. Across her path, beading u i i
hnmnoe were branches OF tho suail fruits VI earl
.rmmer while in the trees were seen The nests q
;ngiuo birds that, moru and even, poured forth me
S,i;ous concerts. Her syas we're of a darker shade
- .Tnrassion of her countepancs more mature
anJ her mieu more dignihed than were hsr eide
IT, oueen of all the children OF tue year was to
,,,..S Nv Jnly a noble youi.. LIS sway gns ove
r."nsrs ard at his approach nothing was neaia u
. .harpeuioc of the sickle, tho iai'nS VI .ae a.
and rhs merry songs OF TIE bialr's' '1o 'ai'' Nc