The Osceola times., 1881-01-08
'gilc New Wear.

the wicked and unrcgencrated part
Of il, limo did not cease, but by ar
rangemcnts wisely made before
hand, New Year, 1881, came in al
the nick of time-made the connec
ton with scientific cxactness-an
here we all are to-day, saints and
sinners, just rs unpreparcd tor death
as if we were not full twelve months
nearer eternity than we were TIN.
time one year ago. Reader, how
do you find the state of your mind
to-day? Looking back on the past
year. can you truly say you have
learned something worth knowing
for example, about your true sell I
Are you still fully convinced that
you are one of the few good men,
on account Of whom, God in his
wrath has so far spared Il wicked
world from destruction If you
still think to-day, just as you did a
year ago, that you, and perhaps
half a-dozen more are all the truly
good men left IN this degenerate
age ; can you faithfully take an ac-
count Of al your leeds, and words,
reduce them to writing, and make
them an exhibit in proof of your
superiority in the christian graces
Of soul? ? Can you do this? Can you
say " behold, my thoughts have
been kind, loving and conslderate.
My heart has been the abode Of
grace, mercy and good will to men;
my deeds have been noble, and no
act of mine, IN the past year, can
truthiu'ly reproach me-" If you
can truthfully hold such language
rs this, you may confidently look
for the coming Of a chariot of fire,
to take you, like another Elijah,
strait up to Heaven, as an appro
pirate reward for virtue like yours
II, on the other hand, The chariot
don't come, you may know that
your account is not true exhibit,
and that seli-love has perpotrated Il
fraud on you. In fact, the non.ap.
pearance OF the fiery chariot will be
good evidence that you arc q self.
dcluded humbug. The mistake you
have made consists in not dang
good, instead Of all the time blow
ing around about the kind Of man
you are, what you believe in, and
what you don't believe in. For you
too, then, this is the day for retro
spcct and prospective reform.
But to you, who have no right 10
expect the arrival of a chariot, on
the Elijah model, and recognize the
fact that you are not much better
than your neighbors, we would ask 4,
do YOU want TO be wiser, better,
braycr and moro temperate than
you have been? THIS is tie day for
YOU to set about amendment. Be.
gin with resolution TO be temper
ate. Now is the time, you don't
want some day to find yourself in
the uniform Of u drupkard-au
ovcrcoat in summon, and linnen
dus,cr in winter, battered hat, rag
ged breeches, pimply nose and
Dlcary eyes. Don't be such an Ass
as TO get drunk just because oil the
4" other fellers' did. Because all
the other fellows did, you ought to
have been bright exception, and
kept sober. He'll will not be any
cooler for you, just because all the
other tcllers are gong there too,
Perhaps you belong to the class OF
hopefuls, known as promising
young men," young member OF
the bar, for example. Sobriety
will enable you TO redeem the pro-
mise Of youth at the bar of the
courts-intemperance will redeem
them at the bar of the saloon, and
instead of pleading at the bar of
courts in defense OF right, your
practice will be limited to pleading
at the bar of the saloon for another
drink on credit. Fortunately; this
don't apply TO anybody about here,
1t is intended Tor young man in
Missouri. We will send him q
marked. copy of this paper. Young
man in Missouri think of Hale,
Holt, Pembcrton and Mansfield
and quit your foolishncss. Study
work, and you will be sober. Aim
high, and soberly fight the battle
of life IN faith, nothing doubling
and you will win; but no man. ever
rcelcd and staggered up the steer
whore lames proud temple shined