The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-16
Address TO the Patrons
Of the Home Journal.
BY MRS. ADELIA @. GRAVES.

Upon the mountain tops cnwrapped In mist,
Where floating clouds the craggy rocks have kissed,
Whcrethc fierce eagle builds her heavenward nest
| Upon the bald, bleak SUBMITS beetng crest,
And screaming flies from dizzy peak to peak,
Some aid against tn intruders step to seek,
Stands the cxpcctant New.Year, with an eye
Fastened upon the plains and valies nigh.
Far the distance, meath his earnest gaze,
The trembling od.Year, bent with length OF days,
Signs as he dragshis tottering footsteps on,
And knows, ere morning sun, he must be gone.
His wind blown hair out.streaming snowy white,
His sunkcn, pallid cheek and dimning sight,
His pasicd grasp, that scarce hath strength to lean
Where long and bony fingers clasp between,
cracked and bending staff, that hath no power
To aid him longer in this failing hour,
All point him to the terrible array
or beckonins ghosts Of years long passed away,
Waiting for him to join the countless. .throng,
Which, since creations dawn, hath moved along,
All trampling on with measured, ceaseless tread
The shortlved moments, years and ages fled.
II snaps-the staR-'twas but broken rced,--
He rcels-he falsi-Old Year, no longer need
Those clutching fingers strive to find again
Tho parted fragments on the frozen plain;--
Thy limbs are sinened, motionlcss and chilli
Thy heart hath felt its last expiring thrill;
Thoult only live again on History's page,
That tells the events Of each successive age,
Where only ONE short paragraph, can even
Record the whole Of cghteenhftyseven.
Columbia's soil, wet with no drenching gore,
Gathered her peaceful sheaves from shore to shore
Her sons, financial troubles only meet
When topping fortunes, crumbling at their feet,
JnE, ham al,oe moi ma su
g Banh.notcs, like gold and silver, can't endure"
The Mormons threaten loud by Utah's lake,
And he who gives, must only give and take,
Across the sea Victoria, in her crown,
Hath placed jewels Of such rare renown,
'Tis said that he who.wcars must lose realm,
! Though wsest pilots guide the stateship's helm.
Her distant subjects, in the Orient land,
Have raised on high strong, rebcious hand,
And mercy shrinks at every barbarous deed,
And feels her heart with heavenborn pity bleed.
IT'S written all, save what must have place
In every passing year the mind may trace
Births, marriages, deaths, dsappofntments, grief,
| Joy, sorrow, pain and pleasures sweet reef
'Tis past, whateer hath been--the Old Years dead,
Its hopes, its promises, if unfulflled, are fed.
Th' exuting New.Year spreads his eager wing,
And earnest shouts of gladsome welcoming,
Ere yet Earth feels the pressure of his feet,
! Fall on his listening car with music sweet.
How fresh, how young, how vigorous he seems,
How like the visions fair of Poets drealns.
How many promiscs-how many hopes,
Cleaning like brighthued flowers sunny slopce.
With bountcous hand, he sCatters far and wide,
Among his worsmppers, on every side.
And yet they may not live-they may not stay,
The morning sun may see them melt away
The Jonah's gourd, worm eaten, droops to die,
The Oaken germ tolls long to reach the sky
So some fond hopes must perish scarcely formed,
And some to bud and blossoming be warmed.
Ane yet, New.Year, we hail thee, with heart
That feels its pulses at thy presence start,
And quicker life leaps thro' the thrilling frame
| To hear the joyous crowd pronounce thy name,
Nor think we then how many sCalding tear
May dim the brightness Of the glad N.w Year.
And so tits best-we should not cloud the sky
When kndlns sunshine beams on every eye,-
| Well take the good, whencer it comes, nor feel
Another day some suffering must reveal.
Why sorrow over what may never come?
We've peace, we've plenty, friends and happy home
And so We'll bid, without ALTERING fear,
A bthesome welcome to the glad New Year.
1T has long been believed in the East that whoever
possessor o! the Kshinoor diamond must loose
| kingdom. 1t is now one OF the gems in the crown
the Queen Of England.