The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-12-29
+" Happy New Year!"

At midnight next Saturday will
pass away the year that is to become
of memory and history, and the
bells which toll and tell its expira
ton will cease not to sound the mo.
mentary pause of changing tongue
as the quicker stronger clamor Of
their peal shall proclaim the pres
ence of the "Happy New Year,
And while the Old Year goes to its
freshest tomb among the innumera
able ages which indicate the infinity
of the Creation, the New Year comes
as the gladdeDing harbinger of the
brighter promise and better life to
which millions upon millions oil
mortals every year look forward, NO
matter how the departing twelve.
month had shaped or wrought their
destiny. Yet every year, as it grows
from seconds and minutes into hours
and days, and thence on to its allot-
ted limit of weeks and months, is as
much the same to the year that had
gone before, in its general influence
upon mankind, as the generations of
this period are similar in every gov.
erning attribute to the generations
from which they are descended.
New Years days are mile posts in
the march of time. They remind MS
that We are one year near that final
day than when we celebrated the
last. Like the statue of James, it
looks two ways. We stand at the
threshold of a New Year and look
back along the way we have travel
led, and wonder at some of the mis-
takes, the faults and the useless
things of which we were guilty
We see where we might have acted
differently and been better for it,
We see where we might have done
good that we failed to do, and where
we have done wrong that we might
have easily avoided. 1t seems that
the year has been very short one.
We can hardly realize that twelve
months have passed into the vast
abyss of limo since we last stood in
the same place. The joys, the cares,
the trials and troubles that have be-
sprinkled our footsteps seem to be
mingled and commingled into a
wondrously small compass.
Standing thus, we look forward,
and the year ahead seems much
longer than the one just past. We
think of the many good things we
can do, of the many pleasures we
can experience, of the many useful
things we can learn during the long
year that seems to lie ahead of U.S.
We think there is much time for Ia
Dor and enjoyment before another
New Year comes around. But it
will slip by as swiftly and noiseless
" 40 did the last. We will accom-.
plish but little that we have marked
ont to be done, and when our foot
steps brings us to another of life's
mile stones, we will find, to our as.
constituent and regret, that we have
done no more and no better than we
did before.
But let US put aside the selfish
ness of our hearts, and let the bet
ter self manifest its presence. We
are apt to become world hardened
BY being jostled together in our bus
mess relations. In these days of
pecnlation, intrigue and overreach-
ing in business pursuits, it requires
constant watching and severe disci-
pline TO keep ourselves unspotted in
the world. Let us think more of the
mercies, and not so much of the mis-
fortunes that have followed our
pathway. 1t will enable us to smooth |
of many Of the rough places oflife,
and heighten our enjoyment of the |
good things which have been SO pro-
fusely provided. Let us become |
reconciled to nature, truth and the |