The Placer herald., 1863-01-03
DEATH AND BIRTH.

At low twelve on Wednesday last, in the
calm, still watches of the night, another
sand was laid upon the shores of eternity
There was no storm visible on the great
ocean of time, the mighty pillows into
which its lmitess waters have at times
been tossed during the past twelve months,
had apparently subsidized, and except when an
occasional long ground swell came rolling in
from the East, telling of the sweeping tide
of events elsewhere, its bosom was placid,
save slight ripples breaking in an everyday
sing,song lullaby upon the shores. The year
that had come up to us dripping with the
floods of 1861, was upon his bed of death.
The monks of the historical society were in
waiting to take down the confession, and
administer the last sacred rites, before the
sinner in ert,emities yielded the empire to
his successor. Shaking his long grey locks
back from his age bed;mned eyes, the
year 1862 looked back upon his youth, and
spoke with regret of the floods he had
brought upon orr people, but with gratitude
in bis ewes, remarked, that Caifornians had
stood out boldly and successfully against
this waywardness of bis younger days;-or
the abundant haryests that had blessed the
land, of the glitterng heaps that had cont
tinued to reward the toll of the gold seekers;
and the health and happn, SIS, that had gen
orally blessed the land Our political status,
was evidently painful subject. He cont
fessed to many and grevious wrongs-spoke
of the elections in the East as conclusive
proof that these errors were now well known
and being corrected, assuring the confessor
that his successor would surely make it all
right, during bis reign, for California.
He spoke of the State Administration as
matter that his predecessor was responsit
Die for, and with tears trickling down his
aged cheeks fervently prayed. that California
might never again choose an Executive, who
in time when the strife Of arms was far
from our shores, would sit supney by and
see our meanest citizen despoied of his
rights without Just cause and due process of
law At the slight mention made by the
confessor, of the part he was responsible for
in the election Of the Legisaur soon to
convene. the debiitated body gave signs of
going into spasms. At this point the hectic
cough, and flushed cheek Of the dying year.
betokened that the subject was too exciting
to lie further pursued.
The watchers soothed his aged brow; bathed
lis pasied hands and composed his body
for the eternal sleep. The pious priest
touched the sacred wafer to his expectant
lips, pronounced the last solemn words over
the repentant dying-the eyes gradually
closed, and just as the last stoke of the
clock announced the hour of twelve, the
year 1862 fell placidly into the arms of
death. In that moment, up from the vastly
deep-out from the mists of the present
forth from the view ess future, his successor
came leaping, and vaulted upon the stage of
life. Buoyant with hope, strong in honesty,
stalwart in frame, his jocund face beamed
with an earnest promise of a pleasant future.
Arraying himself in tne royal robes of his
departed sire, with single bound he stood
upon the throne, and became at once the
legitimate, undisputed monarch-the year
1868 As the recording monk turned the
leaves of the great book of time, to enter
the beginning of the new dynasty, great
tear rolled from his cheek upon the page
and botted theretrom the record of the
private faults, foles and feuds, of 1862.
At this all the people of the earth became
Joyous, and shouted in renewed hope, vel
come, thrice welcome thou happy New
Year of 1863