Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-01-05
THE NEW YEAR,


On the departure Of the old. and the
advent Of the new year, custom imposes
upon Us the pleasing dn'y OF rendering 10
our patrons the congratulations Of the sea.
son. aud warrants Us in communing wrh
them on the past, with view 10 cur mu-
tual benefit IN the coming year: We
therefore greet them oil with "A HAPPY
New YEAR," and tina, we may contribute
our mite towards the fluff meut of tins
wish, ave invite toa retrospective view OF
the pas, year the better TO enable us TO
avoid It's errors, atone for it's omissions and
profit from lis experience.
The duties of life are many aud dvcts.
fed. They are religious, moral, social
and relative. They relate to our Creator,
to society. to our families. and to our selves.
N Leaving the consideration Of the first to
more suitable and competent hands, and
to the silent and unerring admontions Of
conscience, let US direct our attention 10
those duties which fail particularly within
the pnrview Of our journal. And,
isi. As TO our business or caliing.--
Have we improved in this? Have we
augmented the fertility Of our soils, ana
increased their products, by draining,
mannrng, alternate crops. by clover md
roo, culture, and by adopting regular
system of mauagrm"r; Have W. ,mpro
we'd our farm. s,ork, by breeding from the
best 'od'vd uals, or by Introducing better
-,7ry eds--snd farm impieme"'o' by the
use Of those which mos, abridge labor. and
which perform the hes, work d? And above
all. have we improved the mind, the great
lever which mul,ples power, in that
knowledge which Is the guide and solace
of labor, and which impnr's dignity and
independence to man? If we have not
done all or any of these ,hings. We have
jeff undone hose thirgs which we might
nave done. and which in general we ought
to have done, to advance our prosperity
and usefulness. The agricultural perIodl-
Gals of the day prefer to our aid the inn
of the agricultural world, and instruct us
in the great principles of nature upon
which the most enlightened and succcsfu
farming is based. These publlca' ion,
may be lkcned to the seed which is sowr
upon good soll--,he outlay Is trfng--
the income twenty, fifty and an hundred
al rph of Mt
the arts of productive labor, is steady an,
certain und he that vii. not go forwarc
upon the food Of lde, must expect to b'
swept back by It's BIB.
I'd. us regards onr reiative duiies.--
These involve great responsibility; an
our eLjoymcns in life, and the welfare o
those entrusted to our charge, mate rlall,
depend upon The fidelity with winch the
are performed In these matters the ey
affo DIS stronger medium through whc
TO convey instruction than the ear; an
children more readily initiate what the
see, than profit by what they hear. Pro
cept may be hkencd to the moon, whic
shines with borrowed hight, bu, who
neither warns nor animate example l.
the sun, which WHITES all within the sphor
of it's influence. We hardly need be re
minded Of the str"ng natural bias we hav
to whatever we term our own; and tia
we often commend, or justify, at home
wha, we dsapprobale, or find fault viii
y abroad, If The importance of the rela'iv
= duties of life have escaped our Observable
or those duties have been neglected. lher
Is ample room for our improvement IN tn
coming year.
D. 3d. OfOur social 9uties.-These relate
oUneighbor, and TO society al large; and
'hevgregate they form national charac,e
anfSns,lute nationgal power. The isolate
beng, who extends not his charities nsr h
/ bind Offices beyond the circle Of his famil!
Uislakes alike his duty aud his true inter
~. The command is, Glove your negl
| Dr." and il was a governing principle wit
rankin, ,ba, to DO good TO others, is