The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-12-24
A HAPPY E YEAR.

Unless we believe that true ''happi-
ness can come only through high de-
velopment, the wish for happiness for
ourselves and others is not the best
wish that we can offer. But how
naturally and sincerely the wish rises
from our hearts. Most of us have
learned that happiness seldom comes
when we set out to seek for it, that it
is often e when we think it very re-
mote, and far away often when we
fancy it quite 1t is not found in
circumstances and surroundings so
much as in ourselves, and lies more
within our reach and control than we
often realize. Dutiful ways are not
always the pleasantest or easiest, but
it is the earnest following of these
ways that gives happiness. In reach
ing out toward noble ends, seeking
each day the by which to grow
toward the higher life, we find the
sweetest content possible this side of
heaven. We must fight evil wherever
seen and struggle to get up higher as
best we can. What Arnold says in his
great poem on sorrow may also be.
said of struggle. 1t is:
Shadow TO lie, moving where lille doth
move;
Nor to be laid aside until one lays
Living aside, with all it's changing states,
Birth, growth, decay, love, hatred, pleasure,
pain,
Being and doing"
Writes a friend: "Whatever serves
to warm and vivify those processes of
thought, sometimes too coldly intel
lectual, by which we arrive at our con-
illusions respecting the worth and
meaningof life, is OF value. Right here
we find the use of Christmas time and
other holiday seasons, of which we
havetOOfew. They helpto preservethe
ideal side of life. The CHEEKY greetings
OF Merry Christmas" and Happy
New Year" may not suffice of them
selves to usher in the brotherly help
fulness and love OF good will to men;
but they serve as excellent helps and
reminders of duty TO that end Imagi-
nation, the spirit Of make believe"
which in its broadest Interpretation is
but the endeavOr to make true our
highest conception OF the beautiful and
good, is as necessary Il factor in the
solution OF LIES problems as the in
dustries OF scientific reason.
IL takes Uile lClcdl ~ DlOh a. IAN . DItdlIl
Off
The dust of the actual" says Mrs,
Browning, in Oft-quOted lines. chow it
chOkes and STILES and blinds thy
vision, this dust of the actual, when
we attempt to remove it by some
housekeeping process, as the weekly
sweeping. But open the windows, let
the sweet airs of heaven blow b~reezily
through the soul, and both vision and
understanding are quickly cleared.
Our holidays are valuable, then, as
means for increasing mans s~ensibility
to happiness, which becomes both a
virtue and an accomplishment in Bn
age given over to restless, jOyless
acquisition. We are at such pains to
cultivate ourselves in a variety of
other arts, that it seems a pity that
OF simple happiness should be left out"
The following verses relating to the
opening of the new year. will doubtless
be acceptable to many of our readers
at this time:
"A flower unblown; a Book unread;
A Tree with fruit unharvested
A Path untrod a house whose rooms
Lack yet the hearts divine perfumes;
A Landscape whose wide border lies
In silent shade meath silent skies;
A wondrous Fountain yet ~unsealed;
A Casket with it's gifts concealed;
This is the year that for you waits
Beyond to-morrow's mystic gates.
Oh, may this Flower unfold to you
Visions OF beauty sweet and new;
This Book on golden pages trace
Your sacred Joys and deeds OF grace;
May all the fruit OF this strange Tree
Luscious and rosy-tinted be;
This Path through fields of knowledge go;
This House with loves content o~'er1ow;
This Landscape glitter with the dew
OF blessed hopes and friendships true;
This Fountains living crystal cheer,
AS fail the springs that once were dear;
This Casket with such gems be stored
As shine in lives that love the Lord"