Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-12-31

SATURDAY MORNING. De-. 81. 1864.
The Closing Year.

The ClosaAg year.
By twelve O'Clock to night. if no un'o~ard
accident happens to this busy world. its
people will have outlived the year OF grace
1864. Another year. with all its joys
it, cares, its tribulaiions and sorrows. will
have been numbered among the things that
were. As We turn this page in the book Of
time. recollections Of the past crowd upon the
mind with sad peculiar pleasure, Christening
the heart. and conjuying up new and better
resolves for the future. We have wandered
thus far in the garden Of life, and to what
purpose it remains with ourselves to judge.
We have each gathered by the way-side our
share of the flowers and the thorns so plenti-
fully strewn by the path of life. We have
each had our pleasures, our triumphs, our
lows, Us we'll as our manifold troubles and adj
versities. We may be better than when we
begun the year, or we may have diverged from
the straight path Of morality and virtue. Let
this be as it may, the present hour is fraught
with serious, solemn teaching, which it is the
part Of wisdom to heed and obey.
Nature is eloquent with lessons Of wisdom.
We see the various beautifully suggestive
changes continually going on, but scarcely
noted. The seasons follow each each other
in rapid succession, but we seldom pause
amidst our busy cares and ponder upon their
teachings. We liken Spring-time to child
hood and Winter to age, but FIND no time to
trace the smile farther, nor to draw from it
that wholesome instruction and constant ad-
monition which the All-wise Creator intended
itshould convey. But at the close Of the year,
when we pause az it were to count the miles
Of our pilgrimage, these reflections recur to
thoughtful mind with startling solemnity.
Thousands who begun the year bouyant
with hope, with the flush of health upon their
cheek, have fallen by the way-side. and their
places know them no more. Few Of US, in
deed, but have been called upon to bid fare
we'll to some cherished friend, whose promise
Of length of days has probably equaled our
own. We know not when either of us will
receive the summons from the dark-winged
messenger, to join the throngs Of the silent
city beyond the deep, mysterious river.
We car fancy the myriads OF earth Of all
countries and chimes drawn together in COM
munion of soul on this holy New Years Eve.
And how insignificant and empty appear
earthly honors, and how vain the objects Of
the most exalted ambition! We see thou
sands following delusive phautasms, strug-
Cling for the attainment of the several objects
which they believe will conduce to their tenn
poral happiness; but alas how seldom is the
goal reached, and how often when. attained
the charms Of the eagerly-sought treasure
vanish! And thus it will ever BIZ. Each
seeks his peculiar object. and is happy in an
ticipations which may never be realized, OF
which when found, dissolve in thin air
aaa "Ths view dissolves, the vision dies,
Twas but enchanted ground"
Thus it IL with worldly pursuits. With
what relief, then, can we turn to the hope Of
the true Christian. that time cannot dim nor
the grave engulf. which is eternal in the
heavens; and with what majesty his aspir-
atoms surmount those founded upon the mu-
table. tsansitory Affairs Of earth /! Let rs.
thsn. resolve TO begin the new year with bet
tr hearts. Let Us learn to forgive our neigh
bon. and to exercise towards our fellow crea-
lures the the virtues Of benevolence and char
jty. The time allotted to each of ~ Is too
bid. and the ebjscta Of ceasentioa to- issix-
.ikrs.s. fr biekrri.j s.a ss,is<. Let - BE-
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