Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-01-06
NeC Years.

NetC Years.
There is something demoralizing about
New Years Not at all that demoralza.
/ ton is the main outcome of the institu-
ton; but n man must be strong in faith
10 withstand the effect upon his moral sys-
tenn of the knowledge that New Years
brings, even TO The best of US. For It j.
at this season OF the year that man. so
to speak, takes stock Of himself. He
takes his good resolutions, his good
deeds, his bad impulses and actions, his
mixed motives-n fact, his whole moral
belongings and accomplishments, down
rom the shelves, dusts them, looks
them over, and enters them in his books.
There may be profit, growth, advance
but there is apt to be melancholy side
TO the lairest showing.
For suppose that, on the whole, we
have reason to be encouraged by the con.
dtion OF affairs revealed-there are tew
of Us who do not find each New Years
an increased sense OF limitation. For
we are creatures OF inheritance. and OF
habit. the spirit may be willing, but o,
how weak the flesh
1t is not merely that we are too apt to
fail in the spiritual, with all our striving;
but strange barriers loom along the intel
ioctuaI horizon. As we grow older. the
very element of Time, which in our youth
seems such vague. shadowy enemy
il not friend OF infinite iargesse-come
5eaiing down upon US, mighty, resstless
-an army with banners
There are so many things that for SO
many years | have been hoping to do
before each succeeding New Years Day.
The contemplated crusades of boy yhood
even vet haunt me aS things destined TO
fortunate occurrence. Surely the sum
mcr day Is yet to come when | shall take
up my adventurous march on The Cross
wicks turnpikei the same night pitch
my ragcaipet tent in the mysterious
Pines; sleep to the enhancing music OF
the hycna and the iackal. and sally forth
the next day to slay II white Polar bear
with my ivory paper.cutler.
Shall confess how often, since last
New Years, | have stood looking over
The railing OF the terry boat, and imagin
ed that ut last the Moment had come
The Child had fallen into the water; !
had handed my coat to the benevolent
gentleman with Quaker hat and blue
-pectacles, my gold watch to celebrat.
ed stock. gambler -(who is so much i'm
pressed by the generous confidence, and
the general sublimity OF the scene, that
he is a reformed man from the momeml)
and am only hesitating whether TO
place ny pocket book in the keeping OF
the pretty factory girl with a pink para
sol, or in that OF the clerical.looklng
gentleman. who may turn out to be a
pichpocket in disgui,e.-belore taking
the final plung.
was quite certain would have
Christmas story ready 10y this time For
bless you. had found my plot at last;
ur. at least my theme There wns to be
a woman in white, with child in her
arms. standing on the steps ot DIR. lis
church. across the street; Il kind OF IN
appariiion YOU know, although, OF
course, the explanation would be very
simple, and would only need 10 be limited
at in the last paragraph in order TO
make it perfectly satisfactory, without
destroying the weird, supernatural effect.
You see The way came upon the illusion
was ihis-No I'll have that done
by next Christmas. I'll have that done
or something better For, after all, let
me give you a bit oi optimism, after
having shown the gloomy side OF the
picture; The New Years have helped
me 10 this belief, that man is very apt
10 accomplished, in this way or that
the honest thing he honestly and earnest
ly desires to win and accomplish. But
the story may not be story, remember,
or else no story of mine-perhaps only .
good deed, such as giving the plot to
SAKE Holm. m.-ScribHer.