The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-03
BirtI.sdays.

&fe o @E - Nsi tssn
In the first freshness of youth and
hope, those mile-posts of life are
ssluted with gay smiles and goodly
cheer, that they bring us nearer tfie
enchanted portals of fairy land. 4 In.
side we can catch &. CLEAN of the
golden fountain, and the harmony of
the singing tree. The black stones
lie rigbt and left of our path, but
what lesso2 have they for us? How
can we dream that beautiful hopes
and lofty aims like ours could petrify
into inert and likeness masses. SO
we cry "hail' to each sign which
tells rs we are so much nearer the
adventure of life we were 80 eager to
undertake. Some fortunate ones are
destined to the lucky accomplish
ment; why Lot we? To be sure,
many luckless paladins lie lifeless of
the bottom of the hill, but can we
not easily avoid the dangers which
overthrew them?
Oh, those early birth days, what
do they not promise? The auroral
light glorifies the homeliest object,
and we are so strong in the mere
happiness of existence, that how can
we fancy the sweet draught ever
ferments and grows turbid. Hopes
are sometimes disappointed, but they
were bubbles highly blown from o
whole sea of foam, and the supply is
exhaustless.
Later, our birthdays are welcomed
more graye!y if they are welcomed
at all.
The serious business Of life is with
US, and it is no child's play. The
ledger still shows balance in our
favor, but it is balance we must
keep by no idle dreams and foolish
fancies, but by strong will and reso-
lutte action. Our birthdays are the
mere summings up of the losses and
gains of the previous years. It is
not q question of how much older we
are by time, but how much older in
the experience which can make time
available for our purposes. We are
still strong in the power of blowing
our bubbles, but they are fewer, and
we put more heart in the task. Nay,
there Is kind of glamour in them,
for, as they rise, they seem to take q
more solid form, and hold full
world in their rounded sphere.
When they burst, as burst they
must, there comes with their loss
none of the passing regrets of youth,
but cold, numbing despair for the
love, or fame, or fortune we thought
they held. After that, birthdays
pass unnoted, or by o sharp. quick
pang that the folded leaf of the
record leaves us bankrupt in many
things we had held dearest.
Still later days come and other
birthdays, neither fresh nor beauti-
full as the first, nor fnll of the passion
and pain Of living, sas the second,
but in many lives instinct with q
serene grace of their own. The rest
has come after the battle. The feet
can no longer tread the devious ways
nor the hand WELD its weapons of
offence and defence. Whether the
field has been we'll or ill-fought, the
conflict is in some measure over, and
birthdays are but the vesper notes
which mark the twilight settling over
life.
The aged heart has forgotten the
refrain of youth which cried out to
the hours. "Pass on, oh most beauti-
full, for yonder in the distance comes
hurrying toward me moments fairer
than thou art" But it, too, has a
song of its own, which says:
''Pass on, oh time; thou art but
pain, and sorrow, and disappoint-
ment. Make way for eternity, in
whose red dawn angels are singing
the birthday anthem of the soul
which enters rejoicing into the new
life. "-Ne,o Orleans Times.