The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-12-31
The Old and New Year.

There's new foot on the floor, my friend,
And new face at the door. my friend,
A new face &C the door. 1snmyson'
Tomorrow we enter upon 1885.
Before this issue of the Banner shall
have reached a majority of our read
ers, in the hush of midnight, the cur
tain will have fallen on the Old Year
and his dim and sunken eyes closed
upon the world forever.
No doubt the Old Year departs
with many sigh Of regret, for his
reign upon earth has been compare
lively calm and peaceful, and marked
with many characteristics which
should be peculiarly gratifying tothe
christian and philanthropist. During
his stay science and the arts have
been marching onward and upward
with rapid strides, bringing forth
from the dark and hidden arcana OF
nature, the blessings which appear
unable to escape the eyes of cultivat-
cd intellect. Christianity and civili-
zation have been extending the
boundaries Of their empire, have
been erecting their affairs heretofore
darkened by the murky clouds of
barbarism ndignorance, and spread
ing their refining and glorious infu-
ences among heathens and savages.
An enlightened and liberal spirit has
been gaining an increased power in
the direction of the affairs of men,
and every department of human con-
Germs exhibits many encouraging man.
Hestations of the presence of that
benifcent divinity which men seem
now to invoke ''to shape their ends"
Turning from the dying year, we
can but feel that whatever of joy or
sorrow it may have brought us,
whether it has written the epitaph of
our brightest hopes, the finest feel
ings, the noblest aspirations, whether
it has brought happiness or sorrow,
in few hours another volume will
have been closed and a seal be placed
upon q sepulchre whose stone no
angels hand viii ever roll away
How many who beheld the dawn of
1885 with hearts throbbing with the
brightest anticipations, the fondest
hopes Of pleasure, enjoyment and
success, look upon it's close weighted
pwn with sorrow. How many cher
' he'd ties have been severed. The
oung, the loved, the beautiful, s'fair
forms and hoary heads" the dazzling
genius and the generous heart, faith
ers and mothers, wives and husbands
and children, those around whom the
tenderest affections were firmly and
fondly entwined; have been called
away, and have left behind them
desolate homes and breaking hearts.
No one can look back upon whole
year without finding something to
regret, tie forever severed, some
hope blasted-thus no one can see
the Old Year covered up in his grave,
n the silence of midnight, without
dropping tear to his memory.
We began the year which closes
tonight with prospects as bright as
now. We made resolutions at the
commencement of this year which
have, in many instances, been for
gotten. We formed plans which, if
saxried into execution, would have
bettered our conditions, but the year
Is too short to accomplish all Of our
wishes, and we are 30 fickle in our
resolutions that there is hardly q day
but what we would like to recall.
The pest has been fraught with
many pleasures which We cannot
recall Il we would, and it may be
with many troubles which it would
be painful to remember. Il has been
o year full OF vicissltudes, change and
transformation. JOY and sorrow, the
proseand poetry Of life. have commin-
gled. They have brought the streak