The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-05
Letter from UniOnsOwn, Nd.
Ofthe Democratic Advocate.
UxIoxrowN. January 2. 1875

UNIoSTowE, January 2, 1878.
The last, lingering signs of the departing
year, sinking lower and still lower, like loves
gentle whispers in distance fas. receding,
while their dying echoes, as ''the witching
hour" in conquering triumph ushered In the
newborn year, mingled and assembled heaY-
onward with the voices of prayer and suppli-
cation from the members of the Church of
God, in this place, more Familiarity known
here as the church on the hill. In the three
other churches, the dying year was borne
away in darkness and silence, unnoted even
by the vagrant mouse, and without even one
voice to say good bye, and silently added as
q new leaf to the great volume of tks past,
and through the same chilling darkness and
silence, the newborn year felt its way to quiet
and peaceable possession, without one hearty
or even one faltering amen. These churches
seemingly ignoring or dropping the old Gus
tom of holding watch meetings, a custom
borne to us through the long years of the for
gotten past, on the ever burdeued shoulders
of heavy headed time from SO far back that
TO the time of the establishment of the custom
possibly the "memory Of man runneth not
back" But whether it be a custom more
honored in the "breach than in the obser-
vance," or otherwise, your correspondent
will frankly say, it is easier to talk and Yrlte
servance, particularly if he had 10 do much
of the singing and praying But, alike to
those who spend the time in watching and
waiting, in prayer and praise, and those who
make the midnight hour hideous by the orgies
of the bacchante, and those who let the old
year slip away, unconscious of its departure
while reveling in the blissful regions of mys-
terious dreamland, alike to all it is gone
freighted with its varied joys and sorrows, its
hopes and fears. The mantle of the old year
has fallen gently upon the new, shaking out
of its ample folds, doubtless for many people,
pleasing memories, gladdening the heart and
filling it with thankfulness memories of ear
nest, ardent pursuit ended in joyous posses
sion; memories of the realization of long
cherished hopes and desires and for others
only darkening shadows or memories of
blighting, whitening blasts, which, like scorch-
ing Siroccos have swept over the heart, leav-
ing it a scared and barren waste, yielding
naught but misery or grim despair. If there
were any items of interest to be chronicled
at this place on New Years day, your cor
respondent missed them by accepting an in
vitatiOn to dine out in the country, for which
he most devoutly thanked his gracious stars,
having not much to eat at home; was delighted
to have the opportunity to interview such
dinner as is only gotten up on rare occasions.
After partaking satisfactorily of a mixed va
riety of good things, lavishly furnished BIZ the
provident hostess, without giving the slightest
heed to any misgivings or suggestions that
by indulgence in the pleasures of the table,
the pleasant slumbers of the coming night
might be disturbed by the stately steppings
of the unwelcome night horse; and after in
dulging as though young again, in lively plays
and charades with the delightful girls com
posing the New Years dinner party not
withstanding another year had just been ad-
ded to the number long since past the teens,
our heart was flied with regret that the return
of similar occasions did not occur quarterly,
or at least semi-anEually.
The Nj. 2. Church in this place, was bril-.
hantly lighted up on New Years night, and
filed 10 repletion with visitors, including the
elite of the town and vicinage, to witness the
marriage ceremony of Miss Anne Devilhiss,
youngest daughter of Mr.. Charles S. Devil.
bliss, prominent merchant here, aud Robert
o. Fuss, son of Mr.. David Fuss, undertaken,
of this place. Messrs. Harry Weaver and
Oliver HIteshue acted as ushers for the occa-
sion, and made all the necessary arrange
ments quietly and without confusion At
half past seven o clock the bride and groom
made their appearance, and walked from the
front entrance of the church to the front of
the altar, where the Rev Mr. Littleton. pas
tor OF the church, tied the knot, presumably
tight, though the ceremony was short. The
brides fair young face almost rivalled the
whiteness of the gossamer veil that covered
her head, and the snowy whiteness of the
gauzy dress, that in graceful folds eneircled
her 1.-THE and supple form. The brides dress
was in admirable taste and elegance, devoid
of the many excresences and useless abomi-
nations so common to dresses prepared for
similar occasions, (Uide, old bachelor.) Miss
Muller, of Baltimore, presided at the organ,
Ia splendid instrument Of Clough & Warren
manufacture, with consummate ability and
skill, and during the ceremony from her deli
cate touch, low, sweet, silvery notes AOated
through the air, like the whispering Of angels
promising to the happy pair the iulfillmeni of
all their hopes and the full fruition of loves
young dreams. They begin new life on the
New Year, and we wish them JOY and hope
that the hand Of time in his onward fight may
rest gently upon them, and that the rough
places incidental to lifes journey may be
made less so by mutual love and forbearance,
and as the years glide happily by, we hope,
although they may love each other dearly,
that they may occasionally have little fuss
OrrAGrnxar