The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-01-03
The New Year.

Another year mas gone, another
of the mile-stones of eternity passed,
and the season for reflection and
meditation is with us. Not only
will all prudent men count the loss
or gain of last years business, and
determine on what is to be done in
the future; but many, very many,
will begin life anew, with brighter
prospects and more buoyant hopes,
because of stout resolutions to more
correct habits of life and conduct,
and more vigorous pursuit of the
better way. Many will laugh at the
idea, but the habit is almost uniyer-
sal, and ought to he quite. There
are few so perfect but can find some
flaw in their characters or habits, or
modes of life; and though any time
is fit to change for the better, none
is preferred to the new year. Have
we all been as kind and gentle to
the loved ones as we ought? AS
charitably disposed to think well of
our neighbors as we would have
them be to US? Have we made the
advance in mental endowments that
we have in months, and therefore
better fitted for the great change so
rapidly approaching to all
There is an abundance of room
for reflection here and in many other
thoughts that could be offered which
will occur to every mind. In the
hurry and hustle of life and the pur-
snit of the work from which we
make our bread, we too seldom de-
vote attention to these matters, but
crowd on all the steam we can as
though we had care for no one but
ourselves, and very little for our
selves unless to make money.
Nay, let MS all resolve to knock
down the barriers of self and per-
nit more generous impulses to irri-
gate and fertilize the arid soil until
itbrings forth bountiful crops of good
deeds, the sweet and fragrant flowers
of awakened human affection and
selfsacrifce. Let MS yield to the
simple faith, the innocent trust, the
loving impulse, typical of the pure
happiness mankind ever Graves.
In this connection, we reproduce
the following poem written by John
G. Blair, which is as beautiful as it
is appropriate to the OCCASION
Read it carefully, kind reader, and
then resolve with the New Year to
adopt the language of the poet, and
SCA TIER SEEDS OF KINDNESS.
There was never a golden sunbeam
That fell on desolate place,
But left some trace of its presence
That time could never efface.
Not song of ineffable sweetness
That ravished the listening ear,
Then slumbered in silence forgotten
For many and many a year
Buta word or tone might awaken
It's magical power anew,
Long after the sweet voiced singer
Had faded from earthly view,
Nor heart that was ever so weary
Or tainted with sin and despair,
But word of tender compassion
Might find an abiding place there
Yet countless thousands are yearning
For sympathy, kindness and love,
And souls are grouping in darkness
Without one CLEAN from above.
There was never sunbeam wasted,
Nor song that was sung in vain,
And souls that seem lost in the shadows
Savior's love may reclaim.
Then scatter the sunbeams of kindness,
Though your deeds may never be known,
The harvest will ripen in glory
If the seed be faithfully sown;
And life will close with blessing,
And fade into endless day,
Like the golden hues of the sunbeam
That fade in the twilight gray.
REAL FRIENDsHIP.-Some true
heart has given expression to its
generous nature in the following
beautiful sentiment: "Never desert
afriend when enemies gather around
him Whnn SinkuoSc folIu nv 4bn