The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-31
Z. m ! season and Some Hopes,

- The winter. bas been severe uuaiES JUG
arst two months OF It's term; but the third
month seems to be. coming on with more or
tractable and gentle tempe raiure.a Tbs al :.
|gurs an early spring; but 1t would not be
very safe gor.an one to risk much ON such
a presumption. Nevertheless, weare war
ranted By past experience and the know
ledge which is; gathered from the disposl-
tions Of seasons during along period In ex--
pecting good seed-tiuie and remuReruting
crops this year. Sharp winters purify the
soils, Killing insects. and rendering the land
more friable and, light. Indeed, such7TIn-
tiers, where the landis mucll exposed to the
winds and frost by being long uncovered,
| do try the growing winter wheat and clover ;
but where there is a snow-coyering at the
coolest period those crops find benefit rather
tban injury from the severe winter. At all
events, let us hope that the general opinion
from long experience may be borne out this
year, and that the farmer will be gratified
by being remunerated with good crop year.
The winter has been generally severe. 1t
has been no imperfect and partial season,
but has fallen upon the Just and the unjust
alike, and its good or evil will be impair
TALLY dispensed.
We have fixed in our mind from signs
and facts the idea that this year is turning
point in the land; and il we are right in
our opinion, we can but think that good
crop year will be benefcence OF such timely
and bright nature that it could hardly pro.
coed from any less potential impulse than
something specially divine. 1t can do no
earthly harm to us poor mortals to feel so !;
and although it is our ever-present duty to
be grateful for all good, we must all see that
there are periods when, by combination
of circumstances, this sense OF duty may
become urusually-aetv and earnest.
We are all of us more or less Influenced
BY things mysterious or not exactly under
stood. We cannot help it. We know but
little, ard the uncertainty about things
around us drives us to speculation and eX-
pectation upon the slender materials with
which we forecast the culture. The hopeful
are ever showing the bias Of their DISPOSE
ton by their prog nostications. The de-
spending take the opposite side. But the
faith which we are fortunately taught. the
philosophy which we imbibe from our civil
ization, inspires US witt, that fortitude and
constancy which prepares us for any result
that may come from the circumstances upon
which we either hope or despond. i
So that it is good to hope, and we'll for
those who incline to apprehension to be for
tilted by the consultations of wise philoso-
Ihy and plous faith in the ultimate bene-
fits that will flow to man.
Now is, however, the happy, the accepted
time when the most that is possible will be
made out Of period Of special beneticence.
We have hope that amounts to convic-
ton that it will come; but, whether the sea-
sons be propitious or not, we can't be mis-
taken in the idea that turn in national af-
fairs is at hand. We can't forego the dispo-
sition to say merely that a contemporary oc-
currence OF a propitious season would heap
up our national blessings; but whether the
hope be realized or not, we are sure that we
shall at least meet the long-prayed-for Pc
riod OF improvement in the condition Of the
country.
Under the impression that the seasons are
to be propitious, let US hope that the tiller
of the soil will leave nothing undone that
may tend to enure to him the greatest ben
eft from favorable season. He will then
have the grand consolation that, should he
not be blessed with the hoped-for season..
he ut least will be all the better fortified
against one that is not decidedly propitious.