Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-31


What wondrous love my paths prepared
Aud ell my wants hsst neer forgot
All ali, art Thou; and am uought--
| Worthless upon thy 5arth live,
Guide 70 do the thiags ought
| And all past sinH, Great God forgive.
| IOns-cfate to Thee thi year;
1 Ia all my days, In word aud deed
I'll look 20 Thee In humble fear.
| Pursue the light. and @ow go I'd seed.
Be what thou wit, o stranger year:
| God keeps watch aroand n and mine.
Future dangers have 70 fearl
| In hours Of sorr3w rSnst pints-
| Or will beam forth my morning star:
And all my hoars wish bliss investt
| anxious fear. remaiE aar,
| MyGod will give me what is best
The beginning Of the new year has
always something, tor US morta un
usually solemn. 1t is at the same
time festival, to which we consecrate
our quiet hopes, our secret wishes. =
Here, the early solemn singing OF the
bells announces the beginning OF Pc
rod OF time; there, the first morning
OF the year is greeted with the sound
Of the trumpet and with sacred song.
The merry troops of youth exultngly
shout their Joy at It's coming. Friends
and acquaintance exchange wishes
for each others happiness. Pious
children offer sincere petitions for the
welfare of their parents, sufferers, for
the lives of their benefactors, people
in temples for their rulers.
The boundary line between two
years is important to all; to the King
upon the throne, as well as to the beg
gar under matched root; to the in
dustrious father of household in the
midst of his laborers, a. well as to the
mother with her children; to the old
man in his arm chair, as well as To
the youth, who full of expectation
wishes to hasten out into the strong
world.
Our past lives lie behind us like a
varied dream. The remainder OF our
days spread out before US like lands
we have never seen, covered with an
uncomfortable mist The melancholy
are tormented with anxious care, beau
tlful hopes swarm around the cheerful.
Every one directs his view TO the lot,
which the next few days and months
shall bring them; every one would
like to divine something of his fate,
which lies concealed in the dark fu
ture, as the seed now terminates
locked in the wintry bosom of The
earth.
With uncertain expectations and
anxietes, every one examines his at
fairs and makes his designs and plans.
The Christian also reviews his course,
md hopes and fears play about him
But with what feelings, at the begin
ming Of the New Year, does he go to
meet the dark future and his unknown
iestlny.
He seeks moment of solitude in
which to commune with his own soul.
The mind scars up to the Almighty
Father and 10 His infinite love. With
catering tongu he utters the thoughts
# his heart. He says: 81 am not
worthy of all they mercy, love and tul-
ness which Thou hast bestowed upon
me. For what | am, and what have
comes iiom Thee! Thou hast guided
me through manv dangers, known and
unknown. Thou vert present when
my necessities and perplexities were
the greatest. Thou hast watched ov
| er me aud mine when we went astray.
And I feel that what has befallen me
| in past years has been for my own
welfare; and what ! do not yet under
| stand, in the course OF time L shall
learn to comprehend, was also for my
well being.
For this sacred order, in which Thou
| rulest the world, is wise, wonderful,
| and administered for the highest bless
edness of those whom Thon hast Gre
ated Yes, even | belong to this sa-
cred order of the world, which is,
ike Thvself, eternal and indestructi-
bic; even | am counted by Thee as a
member of it. And even sorrowfu
events, when have not brought them
upon myself by my own want of fore
sIght-events which / could not pre-
vent, under which my heart has bled
even these were comprised in Thy
ordering the word from the beginning.
And what Thou dost is we'll done.
0 God, my God! full of inexhausti
BILE mercy! Oh Father, my Fatherl
full Of nameless, unspeakable goodness
never forsake met Never forsake me
and my loved ones! Never torsake US
even when we GO astray. Thy child
rem wander from the right way; weep
ing we return again to the fold of Thy
mercy
Yes. Lord, my God, hitherto Thou
hast been my he p; and Thon wilt
ever be my help. Behold, conf iingly
| turn my look to Thee As weak
child, full OF love and inward trust,
clings to the hand of his father and
mother, so l cling TO Thee.
trust in Thee; therefore I venture
no petition to Thee. Thou, alone
knowest what is beneficial for me and
my loved ones, and Thou will grant
and order that which is for our good
with beneicient hand.
Truly, o my God, o Thou Omnis-
cient! many ardent, heartfelt wishes
move my heart; many little secret
wishes. which ! would not like to re-
veal to many, for fear of being mis-
Judged; many wishes that | would
ike to proclaim aloud and with tears;
nh, if these might be fulfilled! o,
Thou knowest them; | may not name
them to Thee;- would be my great
est happiness.
No, mol What have spoken? Can
know beforehand what would be for
nv happiness, when ! can never know
what will take place in the nearest fu-
ture? No, no, Al-wise loving Father,
| >tammer my wishes before Thee,
like an ignorant child; but Thou wilt
fulfill only those which will be truly
useful to me. | conide to Thy loving
hands myself and mine, all the loved
ones who are so dear to my heart
| IT,,