Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-12-30
NEW YEAR

Ing the milestoneS IN tho pain OF lllo,
naturally brings up the well-worn yet
ever fresh subject Of good resolutions.
TO the well-dlsposed youth this topic
Is full Of peculiar attractions. 1t ap-
peals to their natural zeal and enthu-
slasm In the future, and with a faith
In their own powers that past failures
have not yet had time to dim, they
hail the approach especially ofthe new
year, to make various resolves for their
own Improvement, or for others good,
which they desire to accomplish. As
we grow Older, however, many Of US
feel less and less disposed to mark the
natural divisions Of time In this man
ner. The broken resolutions Of the
past loom up reproachtully, and warn
US against multiplying their number ;
md the many defeated good inten-
tions, and the misspent time which
memory recalls, bring with them a
detection Of spirit utterly at variance
with the hopeful enthusiasm that looks
joyfuily into the future, and lays plans
and form, resolves lever TO be frus-
trated. It Is not surprising that those
who say with Lord Byron
~ make . vow Of reformation every year,
But soon relapse again. before the year 10 out"
Gradually cease to put faith In the
value Of these broken vows, and finally
discontinue them altogether. It Is
natural that youth having so little Of
the past for memory to recall, should
rather Ignore the sorrowful reflections
which 1t might induce, and press or
hopefully to the future ; while as life's
past increases, and Its future contracts,
the mind involuntarlly looks back at
what Is floating away like a cloud into
the distance Of time gone by. It may
seem at frat sight a. II this effect Of
increasing years was increased wis
dom, and that tho enthusiastic resolu-
lions of youth can only be made
through an over estimate Of our pow
ers, and an ignorance Of our inability
to cope with the many and severe
temptations which surround us. In
truth, 1t 10 the young, and those who,
though older, still retain enough Of
youths zeal and hope to continue
making fresh resolutions, who are on
the right side In this matter. A good
resolve shows, first Of all, that the
heart ia In tho right place; that the
intentions, at least, are excellent, and
the desire pure, a far as that resolve
Is concerned. This spirit of mind
leads us moro than half way IN the
path Of virtue, and indeed, without 1t,
we could not take 4 single step. Tho
desire for improvement aud goodness
must eve precede attachments In
either, and II we feel these desires
growing faint from any cause, We
may we'll fear that VIC arc retro
grading, instead Of advancing.
Then, too, the very act Of making
a good resolution strengthens within
us the power Of keeping it. With the
earnest desire for a worthy object
comes n determination, more or less
strongly felt, to work for 1t, and in
proportion to the strength Of this de-
termination will DO the success We
shall meet and the progress we shall
make In our own character. The eI-
preston Of such resolves, whether to
others or ourselves, helps to fortlfy us
against the temptations which assail
US its memory constantly arises to
check wrong impulses; and the feel
ing Of the bond it creates exercises a
wholesome influence over the passing
inclinations, which might otherwise
lead u astray. What then, 1t may be
said, Is to become Of all the broken
VOWS, the unkept resolves, the forfeit
ed purposes OF life, that even the young
are in a measure conscious Of, and that
every year serve to dspress and dis
courage so many Of US? Arc VIC to 90
on forever making and breaking good
resolutions, and to rest satisfied with
worthy intentions, though they fail to
produce like results? By no means.
The great mistake that the enthusiastic
trainers Of good resolutions are apt to
fall into, Is that Of expecting too much
from them. Thoughmost excellent and
useful, their power Is limited. We
must not look for perfect conformity
to them, in ourselves or In others, but
only for an increasing tendency to be
guided by their spirit. A young man,
for Instance, makes a resolution at the
commencement Of new year against
some Vice or indulgence which he de-
sires to overcome. For 4 time he sue
ceeds In resisting the impulse, but at
length some peculiar temptation sub
dues his better nature, and he yields.
Should he then be discouraged, regret
having made the resolve, and dlscon-
tinus his efforts? Not at all. He
should rather rejoice that he had SO
long been enabled to persevere, and
taking fresh courage, renew his resolu-
ton. with enhanced zeal. Thus the
habit Of doing right will, by increasing
power, overcome the habit Of doing
wrong. until at length the breaking Of
a resolution will become the rare ex-
c.ption. Let none of US then overlook
the deep significance that adheres to
these landmarks Of times, or refuse to
open the new year with good resolu-
tions. True wisdom Is to preserve tho
enthusiasm of youth, adding to It the
lessons which experience brings-tak-
ing new hints at the close of the year,
and turning over a new leaf at the be-
Snnh r~ofarnoflnn |