Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-06

Winter, and its Reflections,
g The sweeping blast the skies oe'rcast,
The joyless winter day,
Let others FEAR to dear
Than all the pride of May;
The Tempest's howl it soohes my soul,
Ny griefit seems to join,
The eahess trees my fancy please,
Their fate resembles ine."-Rarns
The bard Of Bllisland must have been in
gloomy state when he penned the above
lines. Naturally possessing SO lively tenn
permanent, bis spirit must have been deeply
depressed to accord thus in unison with the
sweeping blast" or the tempest's howl "
and yet, we are not led to wonder that a soul
SO lofty as his should sometimes breathe forth
q saddcning strain, when bending lowly
meath the blightings of Misfortuues power.
Full well may we compare to-day with
the description in this winter-like dirge as it
is, for
g The sweeping blast the skies o'ercast,n
and the /" bowling tempest is not only heard
as it sighs through the leaHess trees" but
MS it sweeps around the kome-dwelling,
freighted with the snowy-clouds,
The earth looks cherries to-day, for the
storm-king is abroad, reveling in his might,
and the last vcstige of Summer is hidden be-
meath the rall-like covering of Winter. Yet
this is no cause of regret, for if the earth
lies dormant for few brief months it will
arouse to new life and action when the glad
Spriog-time shall again visit our mountain
homes"
Truly the harvest is past and the year is
ended" and it now remains for us to look
back and review the history of the time that
has mus quickly passed away. Numberless
are the blessings that bountful Giver has
bestowed upon US since the Spring time. No,
we need not seek to enumerate them it were
vain task, for they are more than the hairs
of our head
Each day has brought its allotted blessing,
to cheer our pathway--the dewy morning,
the glad sunshine and the fruitful shower
With trust in One that is never disregard
ed, who has promised that there shall be
"seed-timc and harvest" we committed the
seed to the earth, and in due time received
the fruits Of our labors.
And as the cold, and sometimes cherries
Winter comes to perform its allotted part in
the Seasons round, we should be able to look
back with pleasure on the labors and enjoy
ments of the past year, partake with grateful
hearts in the present, of the blessings which
Sod has given US, and look forward with
pleasure to the time when Spring shall again
loose the earth, renovated. from the embrace
of Winter, when we shall 60 forth gladly tc
" labor and to wait" In the meantime lei
us improve and enjoy the present
How oft, in looking back over the past
are we enabled to perceive the errors we have
labored under, the mistakes we have commit
ted, in theory or practice; how we nigh
have made marked Improvement in dfferen
ways, and in so doing be able to shun the
FIRST, and secure the last in the future.
Cultivate the mind, improve the heart
This eau as we'll be done n0w, as when tn,
Summers golden sunshine rests on the green
earth Not only should the things that be-
long to our physical organization receiv,
careful attention, but the mind-the soul
the only iianortal part of our beng-shoul,
not, must not be neglected 1t is not suf
icient reason that, because mau is a farmer
he must necessarily be ignorant and dcicen
in everything that relates to the intellect
Being in constant association with the nat
nral, he should possess mind endowed wit
those attributes that will enable him at one
to enter into the designs of Gods wisdom
and appreciate those beauties by which he i
surrounde, and thus BIZ enabled to enjoy, i
the purest and most elevated sense, thos
beauties and blessings the brief period man
permitted to remain on the earth.
FARMER.