Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-03
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

A joyous declaration where 1t comes from
the heart-a declaration that soured and en-
FILTERED feelings, private feuds and past jeal-
oueies have beer buried beneath the obsurity
of a revolving year; benediciion of love-
which casts mild sunshine Of gladness, and
causes us to realize the truth and beauty of
divine words, Gan things work together for
good to them that love the Lord F"
Before this issue shall have reached our read
ers the curtain will have fallen, and slowly
and duly on the hush of midnight the iron
strokes of distant Cathedrals will have dealt
out the mercileSs passage Of time and plain
lively proclaimed that the fond old year has
passed away forever.
Whatever OF joy or sorrow it may have
brought us; whether il has written the cpl
taph of our highest hopes, the finest feelings,
the noblest aspirations whether it has
brought happiness or sadness, one more leaf
has been turned in our life--another volume
in the progress OF time has been closed, the
seal has been placed upon a sepulcher whose
stones no angels hands will ever roll away.
Yes, the old year is dead. Time never rests
from his relentless and tireless march, and his
venerable hour-glass' is covered with the
dust of ages, and whilst the quvering strains
of the welcoming chimes seem to finger, as
the sur comes over the hill-tops and the morn
ing dawns with Winters chaste and spendid
jewels We naturally turn to see what of
its record. II IL mas been fraught with
pleasant memories and happiness how like
child with its toys do we lihger around
those sunny scenes-the little silver threads
on which hangs the golden rossry of life But
we may End bitter memories the grim spec
tres Of self-accusstion may rear their fronts
before us as living witnesses of unholy deeds
and imperfectlons which we can never obliter-
ate however much we may desire. We can
not wipe out he blotted record or erase one
single stain our sin has left, but with these
dark spots before US and clad in the invisible
armor Of unfatering determination TO do that
which is right and good we can march boldly
forth, striving to make every moment subserve
some noble, useful and generous action.
"Riug out the old-ring in the new +"
as happy, tender and thrilling voices cry out
happy New Year.
White as fake Of snow, without spot or
blemisb, another sheet lies open before us and
we query if it will SO remain? Will it be
scortched with the fires of hatred and revenge
or blaekened with the baser passions of our
nature7 Ia crime and wickedness to carve
upon its pure surface its hdeons and frghtful
visage, or with bood-shot eyes and midst the
lurid glare Of remorse is some tremulous hand
10 afix upon its margin a dishonored auto
graph 2 Or will we, true to the sacred instinct
Of our nature, so treasure in our hearts that
sovereign rule which should govern our inter-
course through life Whatsoever ye would
that men should do unto you, do ye even so
to them"
Then in conclusion, we extend 10 each and
to all of our readers happy New Year, to
those who have gone far into the ''sere and
yellow leaf" we trust it may bring only
pleasant reflections and may its close still
find them on the sunny side of the stream; to
the more vigorous, who are engaged in the
more active duties of life, may their labors be
crowned with every earthly success to the
young, may 1t prove a continuous Anthem
Of joy-pe rfect in all its parts and with
melody in its every tone.