Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-12-20

Close Of the Year.

NOW ulat the elections are over and
everybody quiet and a majority of the
voters of this proud and happy govern.
ment satisfied with the result, and an,
other year is near its end, it is time
that all who have not already COM
menced to balance up their books and
begin to plan for the new year. Every
one should look hack over the history
of the past year, if no further, and
where they have made wrong steps
and formed wrong ideas, they should,
at the beginning of the new year, try
to make such improvements as the ma
ture Of the case will admit, let it be in
what form it may. We have learned
long time ago that time waits for no
one. We are living in an age of pro-
gress and improvement in many res
poets. Should we not improve our
time, our manners, our lives, our hab-
its-in fact, can we not all better our
surroundings in various respects? We
certainly can if we will but set deter
mined resolution to that end. Moth
ing that is good has ever been accom-
plished without an effort. While we
may all look back and examine the
history of our past lives, we may not
see but very little that we have done
but what could have been done better;
still we should not become discouraged
and set down and make no further ef-
fort. We must remember that great
things are sometimes accomplished by
small beginnings, and many small
deeds though often uuuoticed by us
will make in the end large accounts.
Then cannot the farmer, for the next
year in some way, improve bis farming
or make some improvement In his
stock ? Cannot the teacher in some
manner improve the method of his
teaching? Cannot parents and guar
dams improve their manner of training
those that are intrusted to their care ?
Cannot all improve upon their way of
living and use little more economy
in various ways, and by this means
have something more to bestow upon
objects of charity? May it never be
truly said of any that they have spent
a lifetime in idleness and never accom-
plished any good. Let it not be said
Of any after they are gone that they
have lived life to no purpose. Every
boy and young man should resolve to
do something that will be beneficial to
himself and Others, and just as certain
as he does this and sticks to it through
life he will accomplish great deal of
good. But the one that sets out with
no decided determination will meyer do
anything, but is always ready to envy
the one that is doing some good for
himself and Others. Every young man
and woman should haye an honorable
occupation suited to their taste and tai
ent. Oh how careful parents should
be in these days of dissipation in train.
ing their boys. If fathers do not want
their boys to swear and use profane
language, they should not set the ex.
ample before them. If they don't
want their boys to tell lies they should
always speak the truth. If they don't
want them to make drunkards, let
them not put the bottle to their lips.
If they don't want them to dance, keep
them away from, the frolic. The true
adage is, Like priest, like people"
So like father, like children. So, in
like manner, if we desire our children
that are growing up to be happy and
useful, honest and moral, We should
set the example and impress them to
follow. Upon the whole, we have
great deal that's very important to
think about and do. Let none Of us
be drones. Let us set out with re-
newed determination to live more ups
rightly, more godly during the next
year and through life, let it be long or
short, than we have in the past.
P. G. POTTER.
Dihrall Dec Nth