Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-01-02

fiig purposes that have long been slum-
bering-bringingforth smiles and tears.
Smiles because we remember the sue
cess attained either of ourselves or
friends, tears because that during the
year many tSho entered upon life's ac-
tive duties with bright hopes, pleasant
:snticipatidns and all the zeal of hearts
to whom The great mysteries Of the
world wefe just opening, have been cut
off in the midst of their usefulness, and
except as they now live in the hearts
and memories of friends and compan-
ions, they are known no more to the
world.
AS memory dwells on suca thoughts
as thesA instead of JOY and mirth there
is anguish and care; instead of gaiety
therefs sorrow; in and through il all
We can only bow to the will of Him
VII gave and who hath taken away,
tastsupported by the faith which He
alone can give that trust Him for peace
and joy which can come only as gifts
from Our Father. But we leave the
old path strewn with the wrecks of
those who have been stranded on the
rocksof trouble, disappointment and
dissipation and vice and turn to bright
er; more enticing scenes and sounds.
We trace in menury's gilded setting
the ideNl future we had marked out
for durselves-a future whose brillian-
cy was from Immortality to be hoped
for-to pe attained; whose brightness
was with us even III our slulnbers. and
its freshness and beauty was with us
III our waking hours leading us to love
the pure, the true and the beautiful.
booking along the pathway of life from
the days OF such dreams until the pres
eht we find memories of lawful aspira-
ttons gtatified, suitable desires met,
prospects realized, joy-giving pleasures
se:ured; ennobling duties performed.
kavG d8ne.
While the mind is thus revnllihg in
ple,(slte, d shadow of mental pain pas
ses Before the vision of slghs and heart
reidihgs, disappointments ahd ailic-
tions, Which those who have ,il6t been
called upon to feel their Weight, cAhnot
;tppfeciate. How many began the
yeat in hope and gladness to whom the
eha has come in gloom and repehting
for opportunities neglected. and privi-
lhges misused? How MANY Mh6 en-
n. i.n,l unnp thAA vn.,r pnU, nI(SS iE,r E,i,;
cied that for them there was haught
distracting trouble, no ~earytng toll;
to whom the end has come through
whuM there is 6nught of joy vr pleas.
us life worth the living" How man /,
their own strength, trusting in their
strength was weakness and their good
ness Il delusion?
What lines OF care and anguish OF
late are recorded by the angel in the
volume of the year now closing. Th,
utep ocean Of human woe and misery
We COUNu nDb lhGuOt IL VIC NOuN. wv
would not if we couiu. AS 1'ime with
| his bony finger closes the chapter o.
the year and turns over a heM leaf LEI,
us elnbalm only the lessons Of wisdo,n
and experience Of the past, burying al,
our disapPointments and sorrows deel
down from the gaze of the world an,
then carefully Stfew over the grave til.
ashes of forgetfulness.
But not only memories are proper al
this time but questions which it ma,
not be improbable for us ut this tim'
to contemplate: Will we who, are nov
here Witness. the. close of 1882 o.;
will our tombs be closed before the emf
of the y-ary The answer to this q,leS-
tion can OILY be given, by Him who do.
eth all things well. but we can SO con,
slider the Question that If our livSSs arr
spared it may shape our moral chqrac-
ter. develop our spiritual life and tit III
for the highest end Of ,vur being. 3.
Let US then, as. we. reflect, upon tht
! mjssPent mQlnepts and unemployed op.
pQrtunities OF the past year phrpos'
anew ii our lives be spared-to le bet
tar, to: he. wiser, to be llore useful. tha'
when 1885 shall draw tY a close we may
feel that for ourselves our country AM
our God we nave each done all that W.
could.
Grow Lake Dakota.