their regard my youthful successor, whose appearance is shortly expected: I cannot hope to survive long enough to introduce him: but I would fain hope that he will meet with a favourable reception; and that in addition to the flattering honours which greeted my birth, and the fair promises which deceived my hopes, more diligent exertion, more persevering effort may be employed. Let it be remembered, that one honest endeavour is worth ten fair promises."

Having thus spoken, the Old Year fell back on his couch, nearly exhausted; and trembling so violently as to shake the last shower of golden leaves from his canopy. Let us all hasten to testify our gratitude for his services, and repentance for our abuse of them, by improving the few remaining days of his existence, and by remembering the solemn promises we made him in his youth. This is the best preparation we can make for his expected successor.

XIX.

ECCLESIASTES XI. 8.

"If a man live many years and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many."

"TRULY the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun;" and perhaps the truth of the remark is never felt more forcibly than on a New Year's morning. Not the brilliancy of a summer's sun can excite a more cheerful feeling than his aspect on a fine winter's day, especially at that season when festive pleasures and holiday feelings impart imaginary charms to every object. With the New Year we seem to begin life anew; and forgetting that we are, in fact, advanced

.so much farther on our course, we are apt to imagine that a period is added rather than lost to us. The pains, the fears, the mistakes, the follies of the past are forgotten; at least we hope now to escape or avoid them, because it is a New Year. Thus, it is hope rather than sunshine, that inspires us with cheerfulness, while dismissing the painful remembrance of past disappointments, we anticipate the unknown advantages and pleasures of the untried future. It is right and wise to rejoice, with a thankful and cheerful heart, in the circumstances of comfort which surround us; especially let us acknowledge the goodness of our heavenly Father, in sparing us to behold the cheerful beams of another New Year's sun. In this temper, it is truly a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold it."

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There is, however, a peculiar suitableness, at this season, in the admonitory words of our motto; namely, to "remember the days of darkness." The preacher here, for argument's sake, supposes a very improbable case; that is, that a man who lives many years, may rejoice in them all. None knew better than King Solomon himself that such a thing never happens; for he, who possessed every thing in this world in which a man may rejoice, declared that "all was vanity and vexation of spirit." But, though well aware of this, he chooses to admit the possibility of such a circumstance, in order to meet every objection. He considered, perhaps, that the young, to whom he addressed himself, would not think it so unlikely as he did. "Suppose, then," he says, "that a man should have a long life of uninterrupted happiness, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they are many ;" and this is the reason why it is so very important to remember them.

By "the days of darkness" we are to understand the state of the dead. But when Solomon wrote this passage, perhaps he himself did not apprehend how long a

period, how " many days," he should spend in the region of darkness. What a succession of ages have rolled away since he first "slept with his fathers, and was buried in the sepulchre of the kings!" Once he rejoiced in the light, and thought it a pleasant thing to behold the sun; but how many suns have risen and set behind "the mountains that are round about Jerusalem," since the days of darkness came upon him! How wise, then, was he to remember those days, to realize their coming, and to anticipate their long duration !

The young sometimes plead the length of life, as an excuse for putting off these recollections. But how much wiser it would be to consider rather the length of that "night, in which no man can work!" We need not go so far back as the days of Solomon, in order to be convinced of this. Let our thoughts only recur to a comparatively recent time, the beginning of the last century, for instance the literature of the day makes us well acquainted with the period. We are quite familiar with that generation: their thoughts, their feelings, manners and habits, their hopes and fears, were much like our own. We can easily realize a family party assembled around the blazing fire of our great-grand-sires, on the New Year's morning of one thousand seven hundred and eighteen. By the aid of a little imagination, we can substitute the huge carved mantel-piece, adorned with grotesque figures and rich china jars, for our light classic marble, and tasty chimney ornaments; and then we may fancy their cheerful looks, and friendly salutations, as the compliments of the season were interchanged. The young faces then, like the young faces now, beaming with hope and joy, and looking forward to a long series of new and happy years: and yet it is of these once gay and youthful beings that we must now say, "Our fathers where are they??' They looked forward to distant times, but did they look quite far enough? They thought,

perhaps, of ten, twenty, or fifty years to come; but did their thoughts extend to a hundred ?-Did they think of the year 1818, when all to them would be over; when all they hoped, feared, and enjoyed, would be forgotten? -did they remember "the days of darkness?"-It is of no importance to us to answer this question: probably it was then, as it is now, the few did, and the many did so number their days as to apply their hearts to

not "

wisdom."

But let us turn from the past to the present; and ask, do we so number them? The next age, and new generations, will as certainly come to sweep us and ours away, and to occupy our stations, as we have taken possession of those of our forefathers. The social circles who assemble on the New Year's morning of 1918, will not probably ever pay us the compliment of recollecting that we ever existed or should such a thought arise, it will only be, perhaps, to laugh at our old-fashioned and antiquated customs; or to congratulate themselves upon living in a more advanced and happy state of society. Some few, it may be, will moralize upon the past age; reflect how that generation has passed away, and charitably hope that they were wise enough, while they saw the light, "to remember the days of darkness."

But is this wisdom ours? Do we realize those days? Do we frequently call off our thoughts from the objects which surround us, and summon them to these solemn recollections? A new year reminds us of the quick passage of life. It is now truly seasonable to consider our latter end. We have all been recently reminded, in

the most affecting manner, how soon "the flower may

fade." Every youth in Britain, has been solemnly, and, as it were, personally addressed by the awful voice of this providence. What young heart had not sympathized with England's fair Princess, in her distinguished lot and splendid prospects? How many of our readers have

formerly amused themselves with imagining, if they were in her place, what they should feel, and what they would do?—And now, it appears, that if they had been, the wisest and best thing that they could have thought or done, would have been to "remember the days of darkness!" Let those whose imaginations have often visited her in her spacious palace, now pursue her to the dark and lonesome sepulchre : not one ray of “sweet light," nor of that "pleasant sun," which still shines on her deserted mansion, can penetrate to those gloomy vaults. The "days of darkness" are come upon her.

But to what purpose should we indulge these contemplations? not as an idle speculation; not for the sake of melancholy brooding; not to compare our own situation with her's, and to congratulate ourselves that we are not now as she is: but on the contrary, to recollect our own mortality, and to reflect that, although we could not partake the honours of her former station, we shall assuredly share the darkness of her present abode; not indeed in a spacious mausoleum, but in some humble grave.

"Well if our days must fly,

We'll keep their end in sight,
We'll spend them all in wisdom's way,
And let them speed their flight."

:

This is the moral of the whole and how cheering is the thought to which it leads! If we are Christians, light dawns upon the darkness of death itself, and penetrates even to the tomb. Then we may say, "O grave, where is thy victory!" and, in this cheerful song, the prince and peasant may unite.

While we remember, then, the days of darkness, let it be in order to lead our thoughts, our desires, our endeavours, our ambition, towards a land of light and glory. The night cometh, but also the morning."