The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-01-15
THE NEW YEAR,

familiar friend, who will never again return
to renew our companionship. The pre-
cincts Of memory are too sacred to entcl
with unhallowed feet, and the forms and
Features Of past events claim our serious
Ind prayerful consideration. Let nd idle
curiosity prompt us to call Up The scenes
and circumstances Of the past; but with
humble heart and trembling footsteps let us
wander back amid the green fields and sl,a.
ay groves Of life, over which we have jour
hcycd. Let lis pause beside the new made
grave of some loved one departed, and shed
a tear Of affec,ionatc remembrance for the
dead. Let us visit again the homes Of
wretchedncss and disease, the l,ovcl Of squa-
lid want and unmtigatcd sorrow. Let us
tread once more the avenues Of pleasure
and listen to the music and song rs they
float upon the air and thrill our hearts with
rapture. The past is still so near us. that
we seem to hear its voices oe joy and sor-
row, rs they linger in the deep darkness
and solemn silence around us. To-day we
may retrospect the past. We may call up
remembrances Of the year now closed and
ponder well tue path for our feet in the flu
turc that stretches out before us. With
what emotions do we enter upon the re-
view! How fearful the consequences of
past dereliction! Every day and hour and
Snoment of the year departed hnve been
pregnant will, issues for veal or woe. Not
/. solitary pang of sorrow that rent the
heart-not thrill Of pleasure felt there,
hut involved interests Of undying impor-
tance.
Our happy homes, the smiles aud cares
ses Of loved ones, joyous seasons and festive
associations, trials and Affections. SORROWS
and temptations, mental and physical suf-
ferings, all, all tell us, that the destinics
of eternity hang upon the momcntous
present.
The years that have passed shall never
again be ours. Their records lave been
sealed and may never be amended. We
may reform our lives hy repentance and
faith i'll the worlds -Hcdecmcr, and have the
;iiandwriting Of our offences blottcd out :;
but tho records Of the past may never he
.lIanged, we may never live over again the
precious hours that have fled forever. The
moments are gone into the long, long past,
and our sigls and tears, our bitter regrets
and disarpointments, our onguisI, and les-
pair. our weeping and mourning, our bleed,
ing llearis and w;tllered hopes, arc among
tia memories Of hy gone days.
!; Where is the homestead. at whose fire.
side, are gathered to day tho same buoyant
forms and familiar faces that mingled in
joyous fellowship twcIvcmon,h since .
Where is The family circle that has not been
broken by the relentless hand of death
Where arc the loved ones with whom we
renewed lifc's wcarisomc journey but a
year ago? There is not home that has
not felt the changes Of time. For better
or worse, changes must come. Willie we
sit alone, and i'll the silence of midnight
call upon tl,esforms Of one after another of
those who lived and moved about us, will,
whom VIC were accustomed to hold sweet
converse, VIC tremtle at the exceeding great
number who have passed away. The hoa-
ry.ieadel sire--the venerable sage, the de-
voted matron. Fathers and mothers. sis.
ters rand brothers, have died. Little ones,
whose @Pfattling voices in giceful melody
delighted our hearts, are now sleeping qn.
setly in the graveyard.
~ .ln @ s;llow many happy circles have not
ssiMllnr changes occurred And this IA not
$aill; Conditions iu2life have been subject to
mutation. How many, who, 2 few months
since, were in !aff1uence, arc now reduced to
,poYerty-l'ow soon is fortunes smile conver-
ted INTO the sealding lear Of poverty! But
we must forbear. We arc sensible of. these
Changes, and ,.sbouId expect nothing more
sf,srmanent in world of sin and daorrow-
Ie.asimprovc the lessons Of wisdom derived
fsaidssneditaions upon the past; and willie
tte preset opens UP new rfelds Of labor,
asssof progress, new inducements
10 suaanfaly labor on in hope
afcnse. :;
ssLsj! We saysf dc year upon
sliislS kayc now entered'ss IT, las come
3likslA stsaagr .unbidden, and we feel sad Mt
sa anoid friend, and are reIuc-
& :ssat elRtace the strange firm bctoree us.
Nsvsse6 sit5is ours for gopd or evil, and
10y Fully should we welcome the nd
q setlsr period of probation, when
reHsemberillc stupendous Interests assc-
gslasesI xitlI ssg passing hour of time, still
'thSheritaga Of tic living. Can VIC estimate
tbp yalns Of one. moment Of earthly exis.
asncef Then may we, with grateful hearts
stsefist This boon of.a bssstseent Father,
sssud % apps pirate It tfat We may have no
Jssseh 10 regsat is rapid fight, Or at, The
doe Of sshis coming year, sl,ould God ia