Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-01
The New Year.
The Past-the PreSent--dnd the Future
at is born.--I mark its odvent

The compliments of the Season, to our
readers! May the New Year prove to
them one of the happiest of their lives
May all who have gone "behind-hand," in a
worldly and commercial sense, experience
q change for the better from this time for
ward, and now begin to enjoy the fruits
of the industry and effort, by which the
earlier portion Of their lives may have been
characterized! May those who have de.
sponded heretofore. take courage and be
more cheerful for the future!--There is, it
should be remembered, ga tide in the af-
fairs of men," which taken advantage of in
the proper spirit, is sure to lead to crafty
ing results. Almost every individual is
favored with one or more chances Of ad-
vancement and Of fortune. In some cases,
these opportunities present themselves in
early life, and in others at later period of
existence. If, then, we have thus far been
unsuccessful in the various pursuits TO
which we have devoted our faculties, let US
hope in the future, and trust that Provi-
dence has still something satisfactory in
store for US. Nay, let us do more, endeav-
or to realize this hope, by pursuing the
proper course-by taxing our energies
by industry, patience and perseverance.
If we become depressed at the onset-if
we permit ourselves to be overwhelmed
by the first vicissi,ude, our chances of adj
vancement will be poor indeed. But if
trials, reverses, as they may be caled-only
stimulate us to new etforts,-if, acting on
the principle that there sis no such word
as fail" in our vocabulary,-we continue 10
be governed by pure motives and to man.
ifest untiring perseverance, sooner or later
fortune will smile, and our hopes be rea.
lized. Especially should we remember
and act under this doctrine at the com.
mencement Of new year-'Never despairr
should be our motto. Thousands are a.
mong the distinguished and the affluent of
the present day, who toiled on year after
year in early life, and were more than once
inclined to believe, that they were fated to
obscuriiy and penury. But the "small
voice" within still whispered word of en-.
couragement; the fires of hope were not
permitted to 60 wholly oul--another and
yet another effort, was made, until, at last,
their expectations were realized. Other
thousands should gather courage from these
instances and examples.
Why should any individual despair in a
land like this,-any at least, who enjoy
health and possess character? The first is
q blessing of heaven, which cannot be too
highly priced or too carefully cherished,
while character is in many cases, far better
than fortune. Wealth may be, often is
readily squandered and exhausted. The
sons of the aflluent are too apt to become
dissolute and worthless, and to lavish in
vice and extravaganza, the property which
their parents gathered together by years
of economy and toll. Then, when too late
they discover their true standing in society
They find that money gave them a fcti
tious--an unsubstan,ial position; and tina,
with their money vanished their conse
quence. But character is capital which
cannot so readily be disposed of. Wher
based on principles of worth and integrity
its value is priceless. The young-tht
hundreds who are now about to enter tn,
active arena of busy life, should remembe
this truth. Scarcely week goes by, tina
we do not notice instances, not only Of tn,
value, but of the appreciation of character
1t may not, even to its possessor, seem o
so much consequence; but let him be as
sured tina, it is everything in civilized an,
we'll regulated society, and that in building
it up by strict adherence to all that is en-
nobling, manly and high-minded, he not on
ly establishes for himself source of con
slant and unfailing satisfaction, but an inAu
ence that will descend to, and brighten
even the names Of his children.
The commencement of new period o
timel Properly speaking, says an abb
writer, "every day is the commencement
of new year and the termination of al