The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-08-09
DEAD DAYS.

For some years back and at present it
has become passion with the popular
mind to abhor the past, and yesterday"
poor fellow, has to bow low to the ram
corous Tomorrow. Ina world OF push
and progress, of hurry and scramble, the
dead days have few mourners and few
come with flowers for their graves Yet,
would it not be well for the onward
marchers to spend some little reflection
upon the years and hours that have with
drawn from the race? We who in youth
move gently with the world, and they
who in age sweep on unconsciously owe
much to the past shat centuries of futur-
ity will hardly repay. The lessons of
nature have formed our judgments
from the ''rock-ribbed and ancient hills
We learn dignity and moral demeanOr,
from the cloud -resounding sea- patience
and endurance, from the pink and purple
flowers sweetness of temper, and from
the white ones purity. The rainbow
that follows the summer sun-shower in
crease our faith in divine promises and
etc, Capriciously struggling for selfish
ends Reformers and philosophers break
faith with the ages and urge their follow
ers on to the shadowy hopes of the fu-
ture; better, like Cinderella with the
ashes, pick carefully over these dead days
and their lessons which have formed for
froodon, and odyonoan,nnt tho ,,o1;ty ,,por,
which they build, and as for the years to
come, they are patient. They will wait
for us. The dear friend that dies to-day
goes from the heart when the new COM
rade comes into it, and the forsaken
'by- gone" is superseded by the 'after-
while" Some gray-haired sufferers have
halted by the way, some young babes
died and many temples fallen. But, for
every grave there have been hundred
cradles, and for every crumbled palace a
free and happy home. The past still
holds the picture of the funeral train and
echoes still the soft music of the mould
ering walls. The robin that sings in June
is still heard by its lovers when the forest
throws its green and golden mantle over
the shivering flowers, and the flavor of
tho July peach can very often be recalled
to the pallet in that season of fur-cloaks
and sleigh bells. Solomon who saw wis
dom reach forth and order all things
sweetly, would not be pleased at tho in
crcasing irrevorence for the dead days
and would chido our memories for
negecting the silent sleepers beneath
funeral coverlets. A nation of people
intent ON imposing and perfecting all arts
and science, and building safe founda-
tions on commercial and political quick
sands should not become weoned too sud-
denly from the past and ITS actions, for,
though the friend has persisted and the
young babe been born, though the good
decd has withdrawn with its blushing
honors thick upon it, and the new ambi-
lions rise in its place they should ever
live and be warmly cherished in the
memory If tho dead days carry with
them TO the tomb bitter moment that
has come like blight upon your life do
not chide them for it, but rather lot tho
pang they instigate, strengthen and puri-
fy the newer aspirations. When it be-
comes an object among men to marry tho
past to the present all the angels of virtue
will bring flowers and sweet perfumes for
the bride dress.
when dead days, like troops OF Children
Come thrOnglng through the years;
At the door OF deaths still household
Memory paces robed in tears,
FoLGER MCKISsEY.
Atlantic City Excursion on Satur'