Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-01-02
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For the Shepferdstolcn Register.


All hail to the New Year! with thy
manv pleasant associations and bright
sources Of iov. Thou CONTEST like spI-
rt on The swift wings Of time to tuhll my
mission, and depart as the years thai have
gone before thee forever, with their re'ro'-
peclive visions Of sorrow and happiness
of ,horns and flowers. Thou wilt be
heeting as Thy predecessor; yet DO We
not look forward with feelings OF restless
ness TO events to be consummated long
wear hence, towards joys and pleasures,
which may then be ours TO receive anu
beStuw, while the griefs or pleasures OF
years memory are as fresh and abiding IN
our thoughts as though they were but OF
Yesterday! SO dies away each successive
wear, and as the illustrIous New Year
hurries on, how naturally DO we look Tor
ward 10 it with bright emotions; and our
whole existence partakes of sort OF re-
generating influence; an awakening from
an old morbid inactivity 10 brisk and Wig
orous exerton. Our very souls seem
stirred, TO be up and doing; TO forming
netU resolutions. netC purposes ana earn
esuy endeavorng by the aid OF our Heav'
emily Parent TO carry them into ehec';
looking beyond the dark clouds that may
have lowered over our horizon: "forgeI-
ting those things that are behind" our
many derilectIons from duty, our many
failures in good purposes; renewing them
again, and "pressing forward with an
faith in Him whose hand guides
and governs all things,
And Reader! can and will yoH not res
pond! Have you no occasion TO mourn
over biighled fortune, crushed hopes I'M
realized dreams, past mIsdOlngS, broken
resolutions, and evil or wrong hastily IN
ficled on friends, once perhaps loved and
cherished, with whom you walked hand IN
hand enjoying converse sweet anu VINO
lightened with the sunshine of their JOY
business all around them! All! does not
the memory OF th0t wrong "bie like
serpent and sting like an adderF Have
you not felt in all its lullness the memory
of those bitter words which cannot be re-
called, and which swept with their re-
lentless force the lraIl harp strings OF
heart which once beat warmly for you!
Know We not how the strong foundations
of affection and friendship were borne a
way by tie gushing current Of those cruel
" ords? How they broke the golden
chain which had bound them TO you for
years in confidence and sympathy and
had often drawn them to your SIDE, IN the
hour of sickness and trial! Have you not
experienced the luxury of teafs when lis
tening TO an "old familiar song, or a
hymn of praise lraught with associations
that once caused your heart to vibrate IN
sweet and holy harmony with the music
OF It's tone? Have YOU not esSayed 10
pour forth your soul in unison, and EeIol-
icciions have come home 10 your heart
with vividness that flushed your voice
aud lis echo died away! Again are there
nol those, Reader, who a year ago were
STRANGERS 10 YOU, who now hold the most
important place in your affections! Or
have not in your minds eye one or more
whom YOU have SEgbied or injured, and
from whom you imagine you have received
i similar return, with whom you now
hold no converse! Oh u! We know not
what a year may bring forth! Turn over
a new leaf in the book of Thy life, and be
reconcIed to that brother.
Where is the fond and united house
hold. that one year ago assembled around
the glowing and merry firesIde? TIE
Father was perhaps seated in The "oId am
ch1ir," his mild and lustrious blue eye
beaming with benevolence upon the OBJ
iects of his love and kindness. There
was a gentle sister too; her fair face ra-
diant with purity and truth, and herself
the nucleus around which all hearts were
entwined! Scattered like autumn leaves
and Time that fell destroyer has changed
their once bright hone & strangers call 1t
theirs, all their fondest earthly hopes are
blighred and withered. The little stream
let flows luIingly along, aud flowers as
will again bend their blossoms
INTO its waters, and as calm sky will
pverspread their bIusbing beauties; but
then who made tie scene so fair and so
enchanting, are gone like the beginnings of
d summer eve.
Now another parting year is about CIV
ing US It's last farewell; we shall soon hear
its requiem in the gay chime of the village
bells, and in the hollow wind that signs
through the forest trees. Hence tie re-
Election naturally arises; how much good
or i'll may be accomplished in the short
space of one year! How important at
this time to examine our Uis1Cs and ideas
of right, then act firmly and conscientious
ly; doing unto others as we would they
should do unto u.s. disciplining our hearts
TO trust with unwavering faith, the con-
e - Ia cot