The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-05
Valcd1ctOry.

appear before you. For nearly four
years have had the pleasure, in con-
nection with my associates, of communi.
eating to you through the medium Of
our much loved Echo yes, it is more
than four years-(well, to be sure, how
old Ismpus DOES fugit D-even from
its birth-in its first feeble echo-I had
the pleasure of mingling my voice, and
from that day on which it first saw the
light even to this present writing, there
has not number Of the paper appeared
-(with the exception of few weeks
when was prostrated by sickness jim
which I have not had something to say
to you, unimportant though it may have
been, oftentimes. However ineflicien,
and unpalatable my efforts may have
been, l have the pleasing consciousness
of having been actuated, at least, with a
sincere purpose of good and have,
aside from other motives, a belief that
"Honesy, even by ITSELF though making many
adverse les,
When prudence might have set aside, or charity
have softened,
Evermore will prosper at the last, and gain
man great honor."
Having bad the honor Of eonferring a
name on the paper, at its birth, and be-
ing thus intimately connected with it
from that moment, of course cannot
feel otherwise than deep solicitude for
its future prosperity, something like that
which dstng parent must entertain
when he sees the son, who has been the
subject of much anxiety and Of many
sleeplcss nights, leave his guardian care
for that of another, however much con-
fdence he may have in the ability Of that
other to administer the essential ele-
ments of prosperity.
In the course Of my connection with
the Echo, I have experienced many
pleasures incident only to such situa
ton. have often had the encourage
ment of approving words, and kindl
advice, for all of which there will eve
remain feeling of sincere thankfulnes
in grateful heart. And while I ac
knowledge with gratitude my apprecia
ton of sympathiziug friends, perhaps
may be allowed, measurably, to depri
cate the censure of such as may hav
looked on my efforts with less lenien
eye. 1t has never been my expectation
to occupy the position which have at
tempted to do without incurring tn
blame and censure, to use no harshe
terms, of some. Indeed, one coul
hardly wish to do so. IF I have failet
in carrying out my intentions of doin!
right, can only say, in oxtcnuatiol
thereof, that ITO err, is human," Will
trust you will remember that " 7
forgive, is divine" Many, perhap
most, people who have had no exper
ence in that direction, imagine it YER
easy and simple task to conduct sn,a
rillage paper. After about four year
experience, am prepared to give it
my opinion that person can hardly
placed in a position where it will
more necessary for him to exercise Il
virtues of meekness, patience, forbea
ance, long-suffering, perseverance,
spirit of Cancellation, abnegation, ind
pendence, submission, decision, chairit
hope, love, faith, prudence, temperate
truth, justice, discrimination, lberalit.
and the most rigid economical habit
than in this same business of conductir
a" small village paper" From the fac
that such an editor is personally a
quainted with large number of h
readers, who are not apt to refrain fro
giving free expression to their opinion
of his productions, with much Who'll
some, though perhaps not always palat
able and certainly not, much Of it, of Il
kind which would be ranked under Il
head of fsttering advice and of the '
rious dispositions with which he has
deal, he is pretty sure to have occasi,
to exercise one or more of these vrtu
a considerable portion Of the tune /; u
less, indeed, be be person insepst
to the opinions Which his fellows m
have of him, which person, if one su
lives, must be destitute of the true e'
ments of manhood. Not that ] wou