End Of The Year

( Originally Published 1885 )

THE year is drawing to a close. Our evenings are lighted by its last new moon. The morning of the year, with its sweet perfume of buds and flowers, its bright and luxurious foliage, and the melodious songs of the birds, came and went with its usual rapidity. The noonday sun of summer poured his life-giving beams upon us and upon all nature, but as quickly was past. Autumn then, sable Autumn, with its fruits and rich harvests, paid us a visit, just looking in at our doors, merely glancing at us to see if the children had had their suppers, and the cattle were well fed for the night ; if the crib were locked and the rose-bush covered up to protect it from the frost. Autumn, too, is gone, and now we are left to the cold mercies of bleak and rigid Winter. He is now here, and although occasionally his face is lighted up with a warm and genial smile, he cannot avoid showing the coldness of his natural disposition, and the chilling influence of his breath has been observed on every hand. We all button up our coats as if some thief or pick-pocket were around, and we were afraid of losing our pocket-books.

But even cold winter has its pleasures. Sometimes we think they outnumber and outweigh those of either of the other sea-sons. We have our Thanksgiving just at the threshold of winter, as if to usher in the coming season of pleasure. Then following close upon it are Christmas and New-Year's, making the trio of ever-to-be-remembered festivals of our glorious New England winter.

The boys have the fun of coasting and skating, in which, of late years, the girls frequently join ; and the girls have the pleasure of parties and social gatherings, to which, of course, the boys are invited ; the men have their daily papers, with the proceedings of Congress, often exciting if not always elevating and beneficial, and promising a full share of interest to all parties the present season.

The winter schools, with all their excitements, and pleasures, and profit, flourish at this period ; the lectures, the libraries, and last, but not least, the periodical literature, including the educational journals. In fact, we may say, like the people of California, we have but two seasons ; not, however, like theirs, the wet and the dry, but the reading and the labor season.

Now, what I wish to say, although I have been a long time getting at it, is that I wish you all a merry " Merry Christmas," and a hearty " Happy New Year." " Christmas is coming," and then, before we fairly wake up to the fact that it has come and gone, we hear each happy boy calling out to us, " A happy New Year."

Let the year close with thankfulness for its unnumbered blessings, with regrets for its many shortcomings, with hearty and strong resolutions for better things during the New Year ; and then let us carry out all our good resolutions.

I have laid away in one of the drawers of my memory, bright recollections of the " Coronation of Winter," which came at Christmas and lasted till the morning of the New Year. It was a sight never to be lost from one's memory.

The old elms were bowed with the weight of the silver sheen, all covered with sparkling gems, swords, and spears, and swaying scepters, fantastic shapes, and rainbow hues. That brilliant scene, with tree and shrub and house and fence and everything within sight covered with ice, suggested the following lines :

A CHRISTMAS SCENE