Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-01-03
THE NEW YEAR.

The Ledger of 1860 is closed. The record
is made up and cannot be re-opcned for rcyis-
ion. Whatever of noble and worthy deeds we
have done and of golden opportunities we have
improved have been passed to our credit, and
the debit side Of the account contains the rec
ord of all that we have done amiss and of all
our opportunities for doing right and acting
worthiy that have been misimproved. How
stands the accountP
Without any pomp or parade tie year 1860
forever passed away, and the new year 1861
came in. There was no hating, no waiting for
any man. The space of time between the re-
firing of the old year and the advent of the
new was so brief as TO be inconceivable. The
last stroke of the bell which told the hour of
Mondays midnight, was the signal for the quiet
but yet important change.
"a Happy New Year." we say to our readers,
patrons, friends, and "all the rest of mankind"
We are oil starting afresh from a new stand
point in lfe's journey. 1t is useless to waste
any regrets over time ms-spent and opportun-
tiles neglected, for such regrets will avail us
nothing on the record. All that we can well
do is profit by the experience of the past in
deducing therefrom lessons of wisdom for our
Iuture HSuuance ana instruction. The errors OF
last year should only be remembered to be
avoided hereafter, and the places where we
have slipped and gone astray let us turn from
in future. 1t is thus that experience begets
wisdom and understanding. Let us, then, look
forward to the future with firm resolves for i'm
provement with cheerful hearts, and with de-
termination to do all our duty, and to enjoy the
forgetting that there will of course always be
some thorns where there is profusion of flow
ers. Let us gather the flowers and keep as
free as possible from the thorns. If, unfortu-
nately, we receive scratch it becomes us to re-
gard it as lesson for our instruction, and profit
by its admonition.
In turning over a new leaf for the record Of
our transactions, we should bear in mind that
the page is fair and without blemish, and that
the inscriptions we place thereon will be such
as we voluntarily choose to make them. Let
us strive to inscribe thereon only such legible
and correct characters, without any erasurc or
intorlineation, as shall willingly be opened for
the inspection of all men, and meet with the
approval of our own conscience.
We are all commencing together on the jour
ney of 1861, but we SHALL at each new mile
stone, miss from our ranks many who started
with us. One by one they will be called aside
and notified that their journey of life is com
pleted. We shall be constantly admonished
of the uncertainty of our completing the course
upon which we have commenced a twelvemonth
race. While we live to do good and to enjoy
the good things of this life may each of us
$50 live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan, that moves
In the pale realms of shade where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls Of death
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon; but sustained and soothcd
BY an nnialterng trust, approach thy grave,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams"