Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-07
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 7, 1858.
lCONMuNICATLD.
TIME-BY J. b JOHNSON.

Cease, tawdry Festivity, thy clamorouS
roar! Thong btlessness, do you not marx In
your idle reyelry, the parting Years SAD cere-
monies? Stay your mirtb, watch the rece-
ding wear hurry towards the gloomy Past,
and weep over The cherished joys it bears to
oblivion. Perchance you wish to eschew the
parting admonitiOn, and in the social cup
drown its drear iorewarnings. lfso, on with
YOUR clee. Let Gladuess be queen Of the fes-
tive board and WELD her merry wand over
the array to stem the pain Of Memory as she
wanders through the tear believed avenues OF
the irrevocable past But hold Over what
are YOU exultng? Over the lapse OF destruc-
tive Time, whose course is onward and whose
respite is Eternity? That you are approaching
n grave all cold add cbeerless? Or has some
glad and long expected hour arrived to make
YOU gay, and by it's happy influence turn your
fbopgbts from stern reflection? 1T so, you
have indeed, a right-imperal to be merry
Rnt me thinks we should be most conSld-
crate in the hour Of victory, and magma
namity should be chosen guest.
Implacable Time quietly works changes,
and levels many sweet and glowing prospects
when the thought of our identity is lost in
LIES strange and momentous strife. The
obtrusive voice of Wisdom falls with asperi-
ty upon the gladdened ear and dulls 1t by
wearisome recitation of loug-aeglected pre-
cepts, whose pertinent complainings present
painful "reminiscences, give to the scar Of err
ror the won,ed pain of disappointment, and
ha bittor tourc n tho scared chppk at
mourning Regret. But enough of reproGing
speculation, for it enshrouds in It's sombre
tinge all the little brightness that lights the
page of life, and leaves the rejecting mind
to brood in melancholy over the loss OF by
gone pleasure, around which 1t sometimes
loves to lnger. Old limo has almost meas
ured another circle, and comes laden with
the trophies OF his finished round to lay them
in triumph at the feet Of the New Year, and
then smiling at his work, 60 quickly on again
to repeat another cycle.
i cannot utter the last sad farewell
To thee, thou hoary and expiring year,
Without allowing mem'ry to recount
The many active conflicts nave had
During the various seasons of thy sway,
With bright-winged Hope and black Reality ;
Nor can let thee quietly escape
Beyond the limits OF my finite grasp,
Without recalling silently TO mind
Some of the placid hours thy full reign brought
To my tossed mind. Let me live Ger again
In fond illusion those e'er varying Strlies
Tween imminent success and quick despair!
Forgetting not how readily induced
Were the too eager longings OF my soul,
To chase the idol Happiness, whose hight
In dream .delusion led attractively
Beyond my genial study's calm confines,
F. en- tho when IL had gained the halcyon spot
Where bliss seemed dwelling, transient happiness
Would lice to some more charm-ergird"d realm,
And call me onward in the magic chase
TIL cold Reality removed the spell,
And thus in sober tones my ear addressed
"'Tis in the present that true pleasure dwells.
He who would break the futures retlcence,
And look beyond the passing hour iorJoy
In his too anxious gaze shall only see
Pungent Regret, whose every frOwn shall blight
The brght-hued wreath Anticipation wove.
Expected bliss is but Hopes vagary,
To lead the mind from dwelling on those charms
Which ever in the copious present lie.
While thus she in vaticeraton spoke
My mante.clock in slow grief.telliug tones
Told the last moment OF the passing year,
And stiled the motion of my busy pen
December 81, 1857.