The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-12-26
Letter from Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, Dec. 22d, 1874.
BY the time your paper of next week goes to
press we shall have reached that period in our
great globes annual revolutions which brings a
years turning point. Though we are prone to
note, especially, such an epoch, and celebrate it
gadsomely with past memories and hopes for
the future, yet it does not always occur to US
that every passing moment is the closing up of
an old and the beginning of new year. All we
mortals have is the present heeting second. 1t
comes, goes and is gone forever, no more to re-
turn except in recollcctious thereof The earth's
history and ours herewith, as every second de.
parts becomes a closed book, sealed volume,
whose record, for good or evil, never can be
changed. There it stands more fixed than the
everlasting hills. No power can undo what has
been done by the sublime Architect Of our uni
verse. We may regret past foles-often do
but cannot have them eraced from the great vol
ume Of time. They stand until eternity swallows
up everything. The chief object for us mortals
-us feeting shadows of mortality-is to so i'm
prove the present in all things, that we may be
troubled with few regrets as possible for what
may have occurred, or been done amiss, as we
pass onward upon our pilgrimage here. We
may atone aud repent but the record still stands,
with, let US hope, cancelling marks upon it.
We take the present standpoint, or period in
our annual calendar when cold Tines bell
strikes twelve on the night of December, 1874,
and in moment after his cronometer ticks into
1875. What is it? Nothing save an onward,
steady, uuerring pace TO the grave. Some die
early, others later, but all must submit and give
place to others destined to take their places. 1t
is a curious and serious reflection to think that
10 one hundred years, after the approaching new
year of 1875, there will scarcely be living hu-
man being, out of e-perhaps-ffteen hundred
millions now inhabiting our globe. All will
have resolved back to the dust whence they come,
and yet there may be twice or three times that
number now in the seeming mystic embryo Of
nothingness, constituting an active, moving pam
Drama of human life to take their places in our
mysterious worlds drama. All present existing
things, man and beast, will have lost its identi-
y, shoagh succeeded by its kind ia shape and
We, therefore, need not wonder that Xerxes,
whilst standing upon ''Mount Athos," viewing
his vast armies, wept when redecting in solitude,
that an hundred years hence not one Of those
mighty millions would be living, forgetting,
however, that he, himself, King or Emperor as
be was, would be dead with them.
These thoughts crowd upon me as | write re-
garding this interesting transit Of time from one
point to another. They are serious but sugges-
tive Let US, then, as the feeting moments,
hours, days and years pass, no more to return,
in the future with brightning prospects, or assur.
ances of eternal rest, we must make good use of
time as it passes for it never comes back again,
but, as already stated, leaves its sealed record.
The approaching New Year brings point i'm
pressive upon all minds. 1t is ever suggestive
1t constitutes fitting period for good resolves
and the turning over of a new leaf in our earthly
pilgrimage. We can also look back over the
past, see where errors were committed, and de-
termine to avoid them henceforward. This is a
glorious, an exalted privilege. Allow me, there
fore, to hope all who can will embrace it. Eve
ry generous impulse of the heart should be
awakened to higher aspirations and increased en-
obling sympathies. To be happy we must do
good and strive to make others happy. Doing
so most surely begets reasonable hope Of each
coming New Year being more joyful than the
one that has come and gone. Permit me, then,
Messrs. Editors, in the fullness of my heart TO
wish yourselves, your many readers, your friends
my own amongst them-and all the world, a
happy, fruitful, prosperous New Year
Friday next will be Christmas. Its coming is
now visible in all directions We can almost
feel it in the atmosphere. Fancy stores, toy
shops and various other places supplied with hol-
iday presents, or articles for that purpose, are
putting on their Christmas attire. Evergreens
and Christmas trees are seen all around. The
bright eyes of little ones sparkleas if with dreams
and fond antcipations of coming joy. also
wish you and every living creature, happy
Christmas.
A singular and amusing circumstance occurred
here last week which has not yet found its way
into the local columns Of our papers. One Of
Baltimeres most opulent and best known citi-
s-kind-hearted' and generous-had an old
and much esteemed negro cook who had been in
his family many years. 1t was announced to
him the other morning that she had died sudden
ly, and to all appearance seemed a corpse. Co.
ing down town he stopped at an uudertakers or
dered handsome coffin and eight hacks to give
the old woman respectable burial. Passing
homeward to dinner he met his family physician
and requested him to go and see, or ascertain if
be could, from what maady the cook died. He
did so, and on entering the house found the sup
posed dead woman alive and well, busily cooking
the dinner. This, Of course was great surprise,
and amid its amazement the proprietor forgot to