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2 new persons - new scenes - new objects - both of curiosity - and of profit - new experiences have passed over one in quick succession during the past year. I have had reflections on the bosom of earths two great oceans - in the land of the stranger - the people of strong blood and speech and again - among my own country men in a land where the influence that govern men are diverse and peculiar. I have seen that which should make me wiser - that which has given me pleasure - and that which makes me less trustful - by seeing deeper into the arcana of human nature Last year I was the dentist in Albany - this year the gold miner in Natoma - last year I was acquainted with scarcely any scene or associations beside my native village - thus I have wandered over sea and land - acquiring a cosmopolitan's mind. To day, I am tented among the miners of California - with mind intent on the nature of gold deposites - conversand with rockers - shovels - fricks and bars - my own cook - my own house keeper - my own wash woman. Thus changed are my pursuits - my customs - my feelings - my position - yet and all the changes I am not unhappy. Still is left to me a contented disposition - a heart requat to every change laid upon me - a will - ambitions - and true to making the best of all things. Thou has been tardy o Birthday ! in seeking me out this year - thou next later by some three hours - but it was because thou found me not in my accustomed place - yore - with the feeling of old rememberances - for as a faithful friend thous talkest with me of the past and of the future. Still do I greet thee joyful - for thou has not heave tidings of the feast to tell - of no bitter cups that have poisoned my buoyant spirits - of trials past and bitterness lingers in memory - nor bringest thou shadows to gloom the coming time. Happy we meet again - in my life young career - and O! happy may we always greet - till thou comes only to mark on my monumental stone - by thy tears - thy annual coming. Thou dost ask me - what of the past year - has hath it affected me - what [efforts] hath it produced. Are my joys the same - my character unchanged - my hopes fulfilled - hath business increased thy storie - society refined my mannus - friends my affections - It would my probity and simplicity of character or have I changed for the worse - lacked my diligence - unbent my motions of duty and truth - what then dost ask me - what of the past?