The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-01-05
LOCAL AND PERSONAL.

and die like men. And in obedience to
this dispensation, since we last had the
pleasure of holding "sweet converse" with
our readers, an old year has died, and
new year has been born. On Saturday
night last, just as the old clock tolled
twelve, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY
NINE, having finished its course, was
gathered to its fathers" Calmly and
4 serenelv, and with the stars to watch its
\ departure, it yielded to the irrevocable
decree of Time, and took its flight to the
4 mysterious Past. 1t was great old year.
& was 1859. 1t was characterized by great
events 1t had it's troubles and its sor
rows, its joys and its hopes 1t was mark
( ed by unreasonable frosts, yet it saw
Mother Earth yielding bountifully the
fruits of the husbandman's toll. In the
\ Old World, it witnessed fierce conflicts :;
4 it saw Liberty throttled, and Despotic
Power triumphant; but it saw Despotisms
hotter and left them tottering In our
own country, it witnessed contending par
ities, and even had its ears pierced with
the traitors cry of "DisuniOn; ;" but though
the old year died, the Union still lives
Noreover, during the past year, Death,
that foe to mortality, has been unusually
BUSY. He has visited the palaces of the
fich, as well as the humble cottages of
fhe poor; and in his work of havoc and
flesolation, mankind-shall we say it p
have freely given him assistance I'm
lecessary wars, and those beautiful badges
ff civilization, the duel, the gibbet and
Pie guillotine, have well and faithfully
feTyed his purpose. Truly, the old year
las seen the grim monster in many forms;
I; has seen many a poor mortal die and
fow the old year itself has died To the
tcld, whether it be the mortal or the year,
r. can only say, "peace to thy names"
q But we are now under a new dispcnsa-
fon. Just as old 1889 piped out, his
Successor, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIX
+ was born; and Time, whose motto is
rogre sion, Immediately crowned him
Eonarch Of the year. The young prince
flme TO his birth at a cold seasou-snow
&nd ice eyerywhcre-the whole brow of
rcatlon shaggy with hOar-frost. This is
OF as it should be- As matter of taste,
Il is . sad arrangement Time and Ma
{ure would mach better harmonize did the
lear have It's beginning in the springtime;
that delightful season when the genial
emshine giaddens everything; when the
fees bud, and thc flowers spring up when
8entlc breczes send fertb sweet music, and
p dear little birds sing the praises of
Per great Creator. But it were idle to
TX about changing this arrangement; we
eould not change it if we could. 1t has
come fixture, and we are conten; that
2cem5cr shall end, and January begin
b year.
In events of Importance, the new year
~ equal, if not surpass, its iin,acdiate
Predecessor. During its cycle, a Cover
pr Will be elected for our own State, and
President will be chosen to watch over
destlnies of our great and mighty Re-
lblic. We may state, also, that 1860,
Ill be one day longer than 1859. 1t is
eap year; a time when the order Of some
Pings at least is reversed year in which
&s the saying is) ''the girls court the boys,
the boys the girls" These facts will
themselves render the new year one of
IMPORTANCE. But it will be important in
any other aspects. 1t will bring sick
-, and sorrow, and sadness, to many a
Aousehold to others, it will bring health,
and peace, and comfort 1t will give life
and being to millions; to millions it will
the end of their earthly hopes. 1t will
itneSs the taking of many good resolu-
ons; many of them kept; many of them
foken. And last, though not least, it
I'll, as It's predecessors have done before
witness too many Of the follies and
miooIeries which pertain to mankind.
iI let us hope, that 1860 will have a
cen cyc to Progress, and that it may
ark an era III the advancement of the
aman race Meantime, we wish the
ader happy now year.
OuR THANKS.-We return our thanks
Mr.. }. Keil, of Wilmore, for an excel