Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-09
Dumber QG.
The old Year and the New.

-lHe year - bOlnS AWAY llhe inc sOunu VI Delis.
The mind passes over the stubble and finds moth
ing to move, only the red berries of that slender
tree, which seem as If they would remind us of
something cheerful and the measured beat Of toe
thresher's fail calls up the thought that in the dry
and falling ear lies SO much nourishment and life."
GOETHE.
THE OH YEAR had run his race-his
course had fnished-and, as the slender fin
ger on the dial-plate drew near the midnight
tolling, he lay upon the altar ready to be Of
fered up. The Old Year was Ike an old, old
man casting one lingering look back upon
the green vallies and the golden brightness
over which he had passed. lie had been
born-had lived-and was dying-dyiHg =
He lay upon a couch Of moss and withered
flowers adorned with the differing, ringing
icicle. There was a dreamy silence around
the Old Years dying couch, and a strange
hUsh-huH-Iuh in his brcathings. \ few
minutes more AMI the Time-heralds all over
tho land would peal forth the midnight chime,
and the dim eyes Of the Old year would close
forever.
Now came to the dying couch the beloved
train the darlings Of the Old year. lie
was not alone. There were many there to
close Inc eyes Of the Old Year. Aye there
were the fur seas,ns-Spring, Summer, Au-
tumn and W,atcr-in their royal and gorge
Gus robes and the twelve months and the
fifty two weeks and the three hundred and
sixty FIVE days and the eight thousand
seven hundred and sixty hours and the five
hundred and twenty five thousand, six hun
drcd minutes and the thirty one million
five hundred and thirty six thousad seconds
all these were there, mourncrs, at the bee
of the dying year.
And the Old Year was happy. He lcanec
his gray head on his withered hand and said
Hear me, my children. Ye Seasons beau
tiful in your attire, what have ye brought t
mau 2"
And Spring scattered fresh flowers owe
the bed ofmoss, and Summer waved plume
Of green corn, and Autumn poured forth OF
ferings Of fruits and grain, and Winter shoe
his bells and era ckling robes Of ice an
there Spring led the chorus singing forth i
God'S b0uatieS ~
"Ye twelve months, what have We give
TO man ?"
And the twelve months, led by bright june
walked around the Old Years dying be-
singing-"G0d's JouRties."
Aud the Old Year smiled !!
Eye fifty two weeks, what brought ye
man -
And the fifty two weeks marched aroun
singing s~wectly-"God'S bountieS."
And the Old Year r%eioiced again !
"Ye three hundred and sixty five day
what have We brought to man ?"
And the three hundred and sixty five day
led by Christmas, walked around singing
" COTS 6ouatics ~
And a beautiful smile lighted up the ia,
of the Old Year!
"Ye eight thousand, seven hundred ar
sixty hours, what have We given man ?"
And the eight thousand, seven hundredau
sixty hnurs sang in chorus as they marched
" Gods Jouniies !" AMI The Old year W;
happy!
Yc five hundred and twenty FIVE thou
and, six hundred minutes, what have
brought to man ?"
And each Of the FIVE hundred and TWEEN
five thousand six hundred minutes rails
their slender fingers upward and sang
sweetest tcnor-'' GgH'S bouaties 20
And the Oil Year clappcd his wither
hands with joy! "Yc thirty one milliC
Misunderstanding six thousand secon,
what have yc brought to man?"
Aud the thirty one million, five hundr
and thirty six thousan | seconds clapped tn
tiny hands and sang in highest AHo-"G.
father, Old Year, we too nave Brought
man our little hands full Of God'S Gol
hv!"
AMI the Old Year wept tears of joy !
Hrsr! Hu,5! The midnight bells
pcaling-the last hammer has fallen ON
bell-its faint echoes die away among
hill, $, gcntly, 50 softly, so sweetly-;
As gcatly, ,,GtIy and sweetly as the echo +
seth the Old Year away.
The attendants weep-the seasons,
months, the weeks, the days, the HOT
the minutes aud the seconds all say-'G
bye, good father, old Year" till all arot
us On every henl we hear ia p%iaintiye to
singing Joj fatber, Old Year, good-l
good-hyer'
HNES. the iaerry bells art MsgjnS-ri
$50
Ing! Away Eron the grave Of tbe Old "
tue scasonS n,nths, wects, days, hor
minutes and seconds ape hyia flying
They dry their tears aud sing
" MosAExA. & SIw YEAR Is BaHw -
S., With siugins. shouting, mery-mak
and clipping At hands, the New YearRl
claimed King.
Aud in his reign, dear Reader. let US Il
to receive with grateful Lsarts what is
kindly bestowed upon Ns through each I
son, month, week. day, hour, minute ,
second" GOb's BoUNqIEsl"