The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-01-10
The End OF the Year.

Eighteen hundred and sIIty-seven has
passed away, ITO sleep the sleep that will.
never be broken by the sonud Of a resurrect-
ing trump, and added its lights and shadows,
pleasures and sorrows, res,iEMions and ais
appointments, and its sweet and bitter mem
cries TO those of its thousands OF predrces-
SORE. The silent, solemn and mysterious.
midnight shrouded its persisted form in Pm
BILE garb, consigned it to the great charuel
house of past years and chircl its funeral,
dirgc, when thS world was still p~ulseltss ana
obliyion-bouui How many blighted hopes,
thwarted plans, neglected opportunities nus
iratsd aims, misimproved privileges and bro,
ken resolves has the old year borne With him,
the sad msmentoes Of his reign, 10 his moui-
dering sepulcher. The rccollections Of
eighteen hundred and sixty-seyen bring many
a tear of grief to the eyes, and many q panE
Of sadness to the hearts of the 'sChIlGreH of
men'-the brightest promises deferred aud
visions faded, the most earnest resolves bro
ken as = reed, the highest ambitions disap-
| pointed ana dearest friends torn away from
the loVe-uniied circle and immortaliged in
eternity. How many hearts whose fires have
mouldered to cold nshes upon their a%ltsrs,
and how many radiant smiles have been
transmitted into clouds Of care and gloom I
How many poor mor,als have been stricken
with those rude calamitiey, which psle the
eve, furrow the cheek, bend the form and
sever the bleeding heart IlaTpily, the past
year has not sealed the FOUNTAINS which
soothe and take away the griefs and heal tac
wounds Of poor frail humanity. Happily,
the past year has not borne away the oTpor-
tunity to retrieve former errors and !olii:S
and make amends for the injuries Of wasted
time. The angel of mercy still ,enGthens the
brittle chain of life, aud the objects Of our
existence and the highest impulses OF the d.
vine part OF our nature urge upon US new and
nobler alma, aspirations and ambitions With
all the persuasive eIoqusnes, with which viz
tue, morality and religion asserttheir claims
upon the human race. Eighteen hundred
and sixty-eight has thrown its shadow upon
the dial plate Of time, ard brought US new
lessons to learn, new duties TO perform AMI
new responsibilities to discharge I, is ac-
lunlly sublime to live in this age of Pro-
gress and Enterprise. Tie intellectual tri-
umphs, and scientific and philosophical de-
v,lopmsnts Of to-day are wonderful and far
exceed the most ssnguins expectations oil
those who labor in the common cause OF hu-
manly. The magic effects Of Alladin's lamp
could not excite greater astonishnent than
these. 1t is ours 10 partake Of this sublimi-
ty,of life. 1t 10 ours to contribute to the
arand and mighty results that are being
achieved. Let the first days Of thsnew year
dud US ready, willing aud eager TO enter The
nrena, and perform the high mission that de-
upon US. Armed with the omnipo-
Of truth, justice, morality and religion,
ls, the beginning Of the year be distinguished
by our entrance into the great struggle
against error and darkness and each reyolr-
ing month be gilded by the lustrs OF our
,chievementp In the cause Of God and man.
Let each and all so act and live that hey can
.eTert TO eighteen hundred and ~si&:y-eight
With a memory that will cause no bitter tears
10 1ow and no remorse to harrow the con-