The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-08-19
MY BIRTH DAY.

Many arc the gay and also sad associations
interviewer with this name--with this day
which can never be erased while reason. as
seus her empire. There seems to be tails
man in il, that can call images from the past,
with quckness and clearness that almost
overwhelm us. The deep fountains OF mem
ory are stlrred, and as wave after wave rolls
on, discovering some long.forgotten treas
ure rising up from its hidden depths, we
gaze and wonder that they remain so fresh
aud undimmed; and rejoice tha, they are
sti in our possession, no, having been swal-
lowed up in the dark waters of oblivion.
We remember the heartfelt Joy. with which
we were won, to gree, the annual return Of
this day, in years gone by; when, free and
wild as the bounding roe, we were eager 10
spring forward through the bright vista OF
years, impatient of the slow progress we
were making-and imagining that when we
should reach the wished.for goal OF sixteen
or eighteen summers, that was spread out
before US in all the rainbow colors OF young
fancy, we should enjoy perfect, urbouuded
happiness.
But alas those childish visions are too of.
Ten doomed TO destruction. With years, ad.
vance care and trouble also; and when we
reach that desired period, we find The go-
res we so much admired are wanting
They have vanished like the rosy hnis of a
morning cloud; and we exclaim, in the bit
,erness of our feelings, "Give us back the
days Of childhood" And we experience a
sort of dread of advancing farther from those
happy hours, and anxiously desire 10 stop
our rapid progress. Bu, no, i, may not be.
Another year is fast Fastening on, and we
are irresislibly impeled forward with speed
we never before sufficiently realized.
The reason of these feelings is, not be-
cause we are so much more unhappy now
than then, but our anticipations were loo
highly colored, too glorious by far, 10 be ev'
er consumed here--for we expected nousht
but happiness; and it is this bitter disappoiht-
menl OF our most glowing hopes, that causes
our regret. Those fairy dreams o: bliss live
but in memory's magic halls, where they
will still be treasured as records of the past.
We dislike to think we are indeed growing
old--,hat the time is coming when we shall
be no longer young; and our feelings are
similar 10 those that naturally arise on quit
ting the pleasant haun,s of early years; we
would rather stay where We know il is pleas
ant, than wander forth, We know not whih-
er, in search OF others more so, though we
feel obliged 10 make the attempt. We have
received such sad lesson, that we feel
afraid to venture on-ior we know n OF wheh'
or success shall attend our steps, or not.
On, who can llt the dark veil OF the future
and tell what is in store for us, whelhe: good
OF evil, happiness or misery Who can tell
us how low we may sink in degradation and
woe, or how high we may rise in the scale
of moral and intellectual being? Although
many may pretend, there ere none that can
pierce the thick curtains of coming years,
and gaze with unclouded vision on scenes
that are yet TO transpire. The present alone
is unveled-we read what IL presents, but
ever what we there behold, we cannot un'
dersland. How many chapters in our his
tory we find strange and iCexplicable. 'Mys
terious are thy ways, o Lord" and mysteries
though they are, they viii! ultimately be ex
planned 10 our perfect understanding. Though
| darkly clouds may gather over rs, and the
fury of the wild hurricane be madly raging
around, and the fierce storm-king, with
voice OF thunder and eye of fire, be threat
ening US with instant dissolulion--slil fear
less and undismayed we will trust in the liv'
ing God who has The power 10 still the tenn
pest and preserve US unharmed. The clouds
will soon disperse, and sunshine and glad
ness will again cheer and illumine our hearts
Thus with the eye Of faith and light o!
hope, we can perceive Being 10 whom we
can trust the events of life, and believe
them wisely ordered. May this faith, this
hope, ever bs ours; and in the workings o
Providence, may we behold fathers hand
a fathers love. And as we advance in year:
and knowledge, may we realize the true val
ne of time, and rightly improve il. Twain
repinings and useless regrets arise over the
days that are past-even over childhood's
happiness and the beautiful but faded pros
pecls of youlh-may We have strength to
check and destroy Them, Learning 10 be con.
tent " ith our lot, whatever it may be.
DEBT.-Bl essed is he who can slap bis
hresches nnckei in The face of the world, and