Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-14
FOR the VERMONT FARMER.
The Closing Year.

This day is the last day Of the old year,
aud my mind has been SO full Of thoughts
upon the past, present and future, so many
queries. so many doubts and misgivings, so
many serious and heart-searching thoughts,
and last but not least, so many thanks to
Him who has watched over me all the past
year. Hsw quickly the past year has come
before my mind, and l can see SO many
errors, 80 many shortcomings, so many lost
opportunities for doing good yes in taking
retrospective view Of the three hundred and
sixty-6ve days l find l have failed. So
many questions have asked myself: What
have done for mankind, for my Master the
past year Have l made any advance
ment Am any better the beginning Of
this year 2 Will the next year be pro6ta-
Bile, mentally and spiritually? Will the
next year fnd me on higher ground sowing
seed for good May they not be ungeaned (;
may SOW good seed aud reap the fruits in
Gods own time.
My mind has reverted to the poems in
December II, of the VERMONT FARMER,
"Unreaped" and "The Humane Family"
aud then it few way up among the hills Of
the Green Mountain state, and among the
contributors of the FARMER and wondered
if we had not helped each other little, made
US stronger, helped us to have more faith in
ourselves. given US courage to go on, even
though we fail to realize all we wish in this
life. Have we not gained strength in talk
ing TO each other, telling each other our
thoughts, our acts, our plans Has it not
developed our minds, drawn forth the good
given us new, high, and holier impulses
inspired us with those beautiful desires that
20 far to make our lives 4 success, comfort
and blessing to have around US. Shall not
the good predominant in our hearts and sh ow
forth in our lives
"The difference is marked and seen by
Him. as dross from gold" And then
wondered if we should all belong to the
Band" next year at this time, or would
death separate US. II it does, shall We be
united above Shall we belong to that
bright band above ? Shall we know each
other there2 How little we know ourselves
how hard it is to realize our own hearts
Submission is one Of the hardest lessons to
be learned, yet the very experiences, which
seem hardest to pass through, may prove al
last our greatest blessing. No heart is with
out its cloud, whether it is smaller or larger
aud none without good degree Of sunshine
though some accept of more sunshine thar
others, aud those that serve most accepta
bly,, serve most thankfully, as we'll as cheer
fully, and let us not doubt that the All.wls,
Father knows how to dispense his gifts fol
our best good, our highest good. Th
purest, brightest tints are sometimes fount
on petals believed With the bitterest tears
the growth and nourishment Of the rares
flowers are oitimes watered with the tear
Wrung from the hidden rscess0s Of the heart
Prehaps all these shadows we SEQ hoverinI
over our lives are to more fully develop tn
fragrance of our christian virtues and on
morals. Is it not Gods plan mot Ours) tina
the shadow should envelop US for a tim
that the sunshine cannot reach US, that tn,
virtues or the good in us should take a deepe
hold, become stronger, thereby bringing fort
more, aud far better fruit than If the sun
bright rays had not been hid for a season
The sunshine and shadow of our lives, eac
in their turn serve the purpose ofthe Master
The variation from light to shade follow eac
: other, sometimes in quick succession, the
! very slowly the shadow falls, 80 slow W
, hardly realize it until it has wrapped US
T its sable mantle, 50 stealthily yet so surely
. aud we cannot pierce through the darknei
to Gods brightness, Then | think is th
time we must learn to walk by faitl
Storms and Gains alternate, and we fin
thOrns where we looked for roses, but ami
all the tryiDgs and failings, all the discou
agements that loom up before US thel
!, should be spriHging up from the midst
r never-failiDg fountain Of cheeriuneSs, brigl
; thoughts, good deeds, whose clear brigl
waters having been purified by Gods OW
4! hand shall flow ceaselessly onward, rehectin
e from their limpid surface every ray of SUI
light. This is what gives happiness and OF
0 couragement to those around u.s. So if on
, highest and hottest thoughts are only ide
I ones let us be content, for
D "PerchaneS We may not reach
A Ambtion's highest goal
Still let us present
y When duty calls the Toll.p
o So If we answer "present" when the cd
tress calls the roll, doing the best we can,
o is all that is required Of US. Sometimes Il