The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-12-30
"a Happy New Year"

The year 1880 is just departing, and
1881 about entering. Thus go and come
the years in rapid succession, and, on
the principle of accelerated motion, the
Older we, grow the, faster flies the time
and the shorter seems the space between
the periods that, like mile-stones, mark
the arrival of each new year. To age,
the years are but what the months are
to youth. To many a time of solemn re-
trospection, to none can the opening of a
new year be entirely a seasop of unming-
led joy. 1t lays its monitory hand upon
the aged, and whispers the allotment Of
breast of youth, as he turns back to the
dates of simple pleasures, and then faces
toward the bleak, bare walls of the fu-
ture, upon which he is to carve the acts
of great and good deeds; for we have, all
in the earlier years, the aspiration of
two-fold' greatness. At the close of the
year how few. are they so wretchedly
careless as not, in ONE degree, to feel
the truth of the trfte monitor that time
is on the wing" Something like a sober
thought will press upon the heart of even
the warmest votary of the world when
he reflects that another year is numbered
with those beyond the flood. If a here
latter obtrude not upon his thoughts, he
knows, at least, that this sis no continu-
ing city"-that here his stay is abridged
land the loss of time causes him to re-
fleet, although he may not trouble him
self about eternity. Where are many of
the friends who, a year ago, were travel
ing with us on the road to life? They
were apparently as able to endure the
perils, fatigues and disasters of the jour
ney as ourselves, but they are left be-
hind; they have fallen off at one side,
and we remain to pursue the even ''tenor
of our way" At the social board there
are but few of us who do not find some
seat vacant or filed with another. The
husband sees the empty place nee oceu-
pied by his wife, and his heart tells him
a more lamentable void is there. Here
is a family bereft OF their head, and there
a parent eats the bread Of bitterness, be-
cause his children are not" Where is
the belle who Glanced the old year out, ,
and the lover who .'drank the new one
in?" Alas! their Occupation is gone
No longer for them is the hall of carousa
l;oL4ad - - ,ooyo +L,a1y oro 70 ho eo,ob,
in echoing abodes of festivity-for tht
feet that moved to the musical merri
ment, and the hand that grasped tn
sparkling glass, are palsied in death.
Fellow traveller, time wears. We re
member the past, we mark the CLOSING
days of the present year, but VIII
amongst us shall witness those OF tn
next2 a year is leaving us, and wheth
er we regard it or not, it will bear to tn,
chancery of Heaven a record of u acts
Let the virtues of the coming year ex
coed the misdeeds of the one closed, ant
in the splendor OF the future the dark
ness OF the past shall be forgotten. A
we start in the New Year our bark glide
along fowery shores, fragrant with dew
splendor, and over CLASSY waters, but by
and-by the current grows turbid an
deeper and there are occasional storr
clouds, but with wisdom for our pilot W
emerge from the river into clear water
and a tranquil atmosphere.
1t is we'll to pause at the close of
: ~twelyemonth and look for ONE moment
of self-communing, and of confdenc
+ with each other. There is a strang
link which binds the editor and his reac
ers together. OF the hundreds whom "
address weekly, and for whom we cate
with unwearying industry, they are yer
few whose hands we ever grasp, or wit
whose faces we can ever become familia
= the tone of whose voices may never reac
our ear. We address them, but it
only indirectly that they echo OF
s thoughts. Still we realize that, like GU
selves, they are liable to all the Weiss
tudes OF life, and the joys and ills whic
time brings in its rapid but unyaryi1
course. Some may have been called d
ring the year now about to close, tostre
flowers on the graves OF the loved al
n lost-to them we wish a 'happy Ne
. Year." and hat the future may bril-
It consolation-others have added joy
be grateful for-to them we wish cont
. ued prosperity and a "happy New Yea
e some may have met with adversely
to-them we wish that they may do be
ter and have a "happy New Year
e all our readers We send greeting! Peac
prosperity and a "HAPPY New YEARn'