Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1873-01-18
The Year Of Life.


been compared to that revolution of
earth which gives us successfully the
seasons Of spring, summer, autumn
and winter. AS tender buds burst
into being softly descending showers
and thin mists are dispersed by sun
beams in spring, and gradually assume
the full splendor of ooloring and
grace of form sswhich adorn the chill
dren as '<'ior 90 infancy nurtured by
parental care, grows into youth, hu-
manity being developed in childhood
like the rose in April.
Then comes manhood with its stern
resolves, it's strength and muturity-
when pride Of life, desire for glory,
cumulative zeal, and far reaching de-
sign, mark the character, no less than
well-developed limbs, stateliness of
form, and dignity of carriage indicate
the perfect man. This, then, is the
summer of life; every man compre-
hends the language which SO desig-
mates it as at once fgurative and truth
full. In this grand stage Of human
existence, nerved by power, the arm
of the warrior executes deeds of hero
ism, the tongue Of the orator infames
or subdues crowds, and the pen Of the
author dilt'uses over an entire world
majestic thought and burning elo
quence. At this golden epoch Of life
how mighty are the sons Of genius for
good or for i'll The sculptor,who sits,
hour BY hour, embodving in death
cold marble his own supernatural idea
the passionate poet, who weaves in
to huwery song his angel visons--the
man Of science who plerces, deep
amidst the secrets Of nature, whether
contemplating heavens lofty arch,
earth vast profound, or the wonders
of ocean, devotes his summer Of life to
the enthusiasm is quality of eenlns
and earnestness is the sure concomi-
tant Of enthusiasm.
All, but the grand, rich autumn
comes on apace. Pomona has painted
all her rich fruits with mystic color
ing, vainly emulated by art-rlpe
hangs the harvest on each hill; each
valley is teeming with abundant gifts
from the bounteous hands Of Ceres,
crowned with her wheaton sheaf and
holding aloft her long desired cornn-
coma. What does the autumn Of life
bring to a man. A glorious harvest
of high achievement provided its
spring has not been wasted inidlene$s
or degraded by vice. Even honest
labor is now rewarded where higher
gifts have not enabled the industri-
Gus and the virtuous to win renown.
AS they all sowed 50 shall they reap,
for the Lord Of the harvest is Just, and
man is not their Judge. Perhaps the
good mans recompense may not be
awarded him in his autumn time on
earth, but not the less is he in the
care of high Heaven, aud none the
less will he obtain his need.
Last comes winter. Dead and
withcred are all earth flowers.
Amidst bleak winds and chilling skie;
the dying year folds his dark mantle
about him and joins the nournlul pro
cession, headed by years beyond the
food. Thousands after thousands,
they grimly march away, and the
great muse of history alone dimlv re-
cords their advent and departure,
noting here and there the fluctuations
of empires and half-disclosed muta-
tons of earth. AS winter to the year,
is death to man. Then, too, he closes
his account with Time. Naster ex-
istence opens before his enlarged Wis
ion, and awakins to the life Of gods,
he realizes fully the all-jmportant
though Aeeting character Of his year
of ljie-metaphorically so-called.