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

-r-
Many arc the gay and also sad associations
interviewer with. this nsme--wiih this day
which can never be erased while reason as
er,s her empire. There seems 10 be a tails
man in il. tina, can call images from the past
with qnickness and clearuess that almost
oyerwhelm us. The deep fountains OF mem
ory are stirred, and as wave after wave rolls
on, discovering some long-forgotten treas
urs rising up from iis hidden depths, we
gaze and wonder that they remain so fresh
and undimmed; and rejoice that they are
still in out possession, not having been swal-
lowed up ia the Ozark waters Of oblivion.
We remember the heartfelt joy with which
we were wont 10 greet the annual return Of
th,s day, in yean 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 colore Of young
fancy, we should enjoy perfect, urbounded
happiness. ,.... 20
But alas those childish visions are too Of.
ten doomed 10 destruction. With years, ad.
vance care and trouble also and when we
reach that desired period, we fiud the glo-
res we SO much admired are wanting
They have vanished like the rosy tlnis of a
morning cloud; and we exclsim, 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. But no, il msy no, be.
Another year is fast Fastening on, and we
are irresistibly impelled forwsrd with speed
we never before sufficiently realized.
The reason of these feelings is, moi be-
canse we are SO much more unhappy now
than then, but our aniicipalions were TOO
highly colored, too glorious by far, 10 be ev-
er consumed here--for we expected nought
but happiness; and ii is this bitter disappoiht-
ment 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 th;ok we are indeed growing
old-lhat 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 haunis, of early years; we
would rather stay where We know it is pleas
-ani. than- spandas forlh. Sse, knos~ cot .~hi.i.
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 10 venture on-ior we know not wheth.
er success shall attend our steps, or not.
On, who can llt the dark veil of the future
and tell what is in store for rs, whethe: good
or 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 are none that can
pierce the thick curtains of coming years,
and gaze with unclouded vision on scenes
that are yet 10 lranspife. The present alone
is unveiled--we read what IL presents, but
even what we there behold, we cannot IN.
derstand. How many chapters in our his
tory we find strange and irexpIicable. "Mys-
terious are Thy ways, o Lord" and mysteries
though they are, they vii. 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 diesolution--s,ill fear
less and undsmayed we will trust 10 the liv.
ing God who has .he power TO still the tenn
pest and preserve us unbarmed. The clouds
will soon disperse, and sunshine and glad
ness will sgain cheer and ilumiue our hearts.
Thus with the eye of faith and light o:
hope, we can perceive Being TO whom we
can irnsl the events of life. and believe
Them wisely ordered. May this faith, this
hope, ever be ours; and in the workings Of
Providence, may we behold a fathers hand,
fathers love. And as we advance in years
and knowledge, may We realize the true val
ue Of time, and rightly improve il. fvain
repinings and useless regrets arise over the
days that are past-even over childhood's
happiness and the beautiful but faded pros
pects of youlh-may We have strength to
check and destroy them, Learning to be con-
tent With our lot, whatever it maybe.
->@~oS-