Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-12-26
The Years Work.

WITH this issue our labor for the
year 1888 is closed. During the year
we have visited hundreds of families.
bearing lie news 10 all. In some cases.
our columns were il den with glad
tidings, in others Il ey bore only sorrow"
ful news. Whether IN the depths Of
sorrow or in the gayest seasons OF
festivity, The weekly visits were the
same.
At lie beginning Of the year,
the cause for which we cOntended and
the prir pies for which we fought
seemed 10 be under a cloud-at the
close of the year, tie cloud has vanish
ed, the cause is triumphant and the
victory of this year, We are fsin to be-
lieve, is only The forerupner ola greater
victory next year, which will add adj
dilional luster ~ tie pathway Of the
rsrty, which from the beginning of The
century, has maniully aud beroically
contendt d fer the rights of the people.
But Whether victory OF defeat should
lie The result, The cause-is The same and
1t will finally triumph over all opposi-
lion.
1t is unnecessary 10 remind our
readers Of he many great convulslons
Of nature by which Thousands Of human
lives were DESTROYED or of given even
list Ct tie many accidents upon sea or
land particulars of which v ere publish
I'd during The last twelve months. AS
approach The close Of the year, We
feel dis posed 10 review tie years work.
Tie Locks will soon be closed and
Whether We have spent the time given
Us, fcolishlJ or wisely, The record will
BE- made up and the look sealed, only
10 be leopensd in The great hereafter
vLen Gcd's angel will unseal the SOL
umeaLd review the work. 1t seems
Tut few days siLce tie beginning OF
the year. The time has passed aud
changes, one after another, have fol-
loved closely. 1t may be that your
family, with the ages changed one year,
is The same as it was last year. The
silent messenger may have passed your
CoUr, lot lie ballId at that OF neigh
Dor. Or it may be that he entered your
family, aid that one 10y ed, and revered
Was called away and the vacant seat al
tie table and at lbe hearth stone, all
the tine remind you Of what you have
lost. These changes come with each
successive year. If not this year they
may come next, or if not then, at some
iuiuie Tine, ior TIE sorrow that now
casts lis black pail over a neighbor's
joys Will visit J on, in turn.
AT the beginning Of the year we made
many good resolutions, we may have
made solemn VOWS. Then We looked
forward. Every resolution WAS strong,
and relying upon the strength which
We supposed that We possessed, we
tainted the future in colors as bright as
nore ard Fancy could furnish. Then
lie fire buIned with brilllaucy, and
warmth, now The doll gray ashes, or at
most lie snOulderlng Goals, lie upon
lie hearth. We look back with no
such feelings as Hope inspires. and We
calmly review the past year and Its
deeds with the cold scrutiny OF un-
thspeable certainty; We look at facts,
AID as We gaze upon the YEARS. record,
We feel that one word will describe it,
and that VOID is-falure.
Yet tLere may have Teen nanv
deeds of uDselfi,h kindness which you
have forgoittn,-htlle acts that have
made impItssiOns that will outlive the
changing tcepes OF successive Year,,
ard Will foim a page in your own LIES
took that will lie brighter than those
that have cost you mouths of uniting
lslCr and nights OF restless schemiDg.
As We review tie Voik of The year,
ard sce that so little has been accom-.
plishtd. We are reminded, that 10
short I'm e. IL will be our duty to re.
view the work Of The years which have
been allotted ne. TIen the books will
ia pCsled, the day Ok will be thrown
aside forever, The account on the led
ger will lie lalsLctd ard The debts and
credits accurately sscertalned. To
every ireader We express the sincere
wish that there will be a handsome
balance TO his credit and flat bis &C.
count may lie reviewed with :pproba-
ton by the Master.