The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-12-30
For the Jeecrsoniau Democrat.
The Closing Year.

The Closing Year.
Tho stream Of time has its source in tho
great ocean Of eternity; and as its moments
uio swiftly aud noisclessly numbered with
/ the past, they, one by one, rcjoin the mighty
| tide of endless dura ton from which they
FIRST cmanaicd and they return to it, not as
/ thcy sprang from it, but each bearing
upon it tho impress mado by the words, acts,
! aud thoughts, of those who received, and
used or abused. this giCt OF Gods bounty I:
and though each is in and of itself an untold
treasure, yot they como and go UNDECIDED,
un;houeht Of, uncarcd for Each moment
/ blends So impcrcepUbly with its predecessor
/ that rs n separate intcger Of time we heed il
NOT. Hours como and gci We poto it not.
! Day succeeds night. and night follows day;
| but mauk md arc accustomed thereto, aud
/ they not unfrcqucntly riso to their labor. or
retire 10 their couch. without ouco thinking
/ what they arc, and whittier thoy tend, with.
out realizing that another page of thoir
ifC's book Is filled, signed, sealed and dcliv-
cred as so much evidence, into the hands Of
! Him, who will judge tbom according TO The
/ volume OF thuir life. Weeks uro future
present. past and we hardly think that thoy
were 10 be that they arc no more. Even the
! Lords Day, with it's sacred rest aud hallowcd
associations, scarcely breaks tho moDotony
or checks tho intensity of our worship at
tho shrine Of wealth, or pleasure, or fame.
Moous wax and wane, aud seasons come and
20. but occupied with busiGcss or immersed
in care, their silent admonItions fail 70 attract
pt1Y tt,,t, 10 wit hnrnW uh
from the enCrossing aud sordid pursuits of
busy life. Aud We too often look upon
these monitors OF passing timc rather as
miestonCs or way stations upon tho great
thuroughtaro Of lifu which must needs be
passed, and tho sooner tho better, than MS
friendly monitors who, though silently vet
cloqucntly nud forlingy remind rs what wc
arc and where We arc going. But the
closing year, less familiar, less frequent and
moro intimately connected with the daily
business Of life. and. by it's change of dato
obruding itself upon our attention, compels
US willingly or unwllingly to pause 10 look
about Us. to see where VIC are and what wC
| aru doing; 10 reflect, mOraizo, ponder and
resolve; to review tho past aud to lay plans
! for the future. 1t is true indeed we havo to
do hut with the present; that in it wo 1.-Two
and labor. Still, "ris greatly wiso to talk
with our past hours and ask them what re-
port they Soro to heaven to reflect upon
what We hare dOTe what we might have done,
and what wo ought iC do; what God has
dono for US: and what return We baye made
for His manifold mcrcics.
The closing year! Oh 'Tis not the
| time for empty mirth and careless joy. 'Cis
! most urmcot Cor lroic, tun aud folly. But
it is "a time for memory ard for tears"
! - ,b
allotted us as the period Of our probation, ,is
COMO Its houls, and days. ard weeks,
| and months, whcro arc they 7 Conc, gone
| to reioin the ocean of eternity. Conc 80
meet us at tho tribunal Of our now kind anu
! gracious Fathor;ot our then stern, ,inexorabo
| and just Judge. What record do they bear
thithor from US p: What impress havo VIZ
made with them upon those around us !:
What traces have thoy gravon upon our
| selves: A few brief hours more and the
olos;"s -uvuu or another ycnr is over. Open
now the Ledger, Time, and in the light nf.
fordcd by memory and conscience lot us
examine is records. What promises has
hope made What drafts has stern truth
patl: Has life of constant effort. pcrse.
vcrng toll, ard patient continuance IN we'll
doing, changed into real estate those noble
plans and high resolves we so warmly cher
ished 800 days ngo Hayo we credit on
each ot i.s pages tor 'ria's weii endured,
OWLS avoided, and goon done; Tor a'd TO the
weak and needy, encouragement 10 me
fceb'o. roproot ot tho wrong, hnd sympathy
with Tho etr'hg contains ~ no record OF
duties We have refused 10 I'scnarge; iabors
VIC havc neglected to perform AFRO we
debt"rs to no In'sdcods dono, opportnn nni'ies
tor good mlsscd, or time wasted Have we
by thanktulncss, obcdicnco and trust, His-
has daily: hourly, strcwcd our pathway with
lIIS DJ TO- nm lo"" yc. M the Jav Of reckoning will