Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-01-05

nsr The New Year opens quite coolly and promises
to give us touch of good old fashloneo "iner' Al
fact the uddeness of the change which took place yes
terday morning when people woke up to find 1t reezng'
NAV have had not little to do with the intense appre
citation of the codness of the weather and its general
discomfort The cold came not on by degrees Out Nhe
wedge reversed butend foremost without preface or
apology Such it is, however, we must grin anu pei
it. Happy they who have the means to PROVIDE against
the incemency of the weather. and still more happy tney
who enabled to enjoy the luxury OF assisting otners
who may be in want of the comforts or perhaps the co
mon neccessares of life and fear that the advent OF
the New Year finds too many in that condton-"e
fear that always will be indeed the Divine Founder
of our faith assures that will always have the poor
with u.s. and always having with those whose crcum
stances require the assistance of the helping hand OF SIS
erly or brothery kindness should keep constantly alive
those feelings of charity earnestly insisted upon as the
most essential element of the christian character.
1t might be an interesting speculation to consider OF
the different feelings with which the coming in of new
year is regarded by different classes opeopetbe hopes,
the fears the anticpations to which the sight of this
milestone on the journey of life gives rse almost
numerous and as variant the and women who in
dulge in them How greatly is the coloring of objects
and events dependent upon the medium through which
they are viewed The young the hopeful the successful
look out upon the future with different eyes from those
of the care-worn and the unhappy-rom those of him
who has fought the battle of lie and been worsted-
who feels perhaps that his msforunes have too often
been only other for his faults or his weaknesses
This last reflection adds the last drop of bitterness to
the cup of misery, by deprvng the poor victim of even
bation Then indeed be is defenceess. Towards an
erring brother sister-towards bowed down by
misortunes either merited unmerited there is char
y to be exercised still purer and nober than that which
consists merely in almsgviDg or the offer of physical
assistance. There is the word of good cheer and
is the kindly judgment that places
the best construction upon the acts and motives OF our
fra humanity, that judges others we would that
Others should Judge u.s. that stops by the waysde to bind
up the wounds of the distressed and passes not haught
ly by the other side though above sympathy with
the fallen or the unfortunate THIS charity is indeed
the crowning virtue of the Christian character, and
surely it is virtue the exercise of which pressed upon
us by all the reflections to which the close of year
and the advent of another must give rise. Let each
of look back at the year just gone and see how
far short his performances have fallen compared with
his resolves and with his own convictions of duty In
stead of being year better, in too many
year We may be sadder-we must be sadder,
but wiser men? Every year that we travel on
wards upon our journey to the grave, dispels some
pleasing illusion or brushes hope cherished
while it binds still more firmly around the chains with
which custom, prejudice habit etter the freedom of our
actions and finally leave US little than me-
chanical volitiOn How the ante-diuvian patriarchs
could have sustained the burden of long centuries Of
derng jew embodes and recognizes the fearful idea of
imtess indefinitely protracted duration of human life
He cannot die!
But if our hopes have been destined to disappoint
ment, have been many of antcpations of evil =
troubles thai st distance seemed overwhelming, have,
upon nearer approach, passed harmless away, and
left US to wonder at the groundessness of fears
AS in the past so it will be in the future Sufficient
unto the day the evil thereof We will have enough
of Mat-let us not borrow trouble, but rather seek
for grounds of encouragement and of happiness
and to do so most advantageously let carry into the
new year few of the disturbing passions and preju
dices of the old possible. No man can harbor
in his breast malice, uncharitabeness, anger
without inurng his peace and Happiness even more
than the peace and happiness of those against whom
such evil passions directed.
But we become tedious. We do not wish to usurp
the perogave of the pulpit by preaching to at
readers Our thoughts have carried farther than
designed anticipated 1t may be that some one else
feels do, and sympathises with the rather
impressions to which this fails togve
rise in mind or our feelings.