Smyrna times., 1888-01-25
For the Smyrna Times.
Greeting the New Year.
Listen the past year is dying
There a sorrOwful complain
In the rafting of the woodbine
In the dripping of the rain.


In the rafting of the woodbine
In the dripping of the rain.
The year 1887 has drawn to a close.
a few more days and it will be remem-
bered "Only" as another year number
ed with those gone before and will be
thought of only as an echo" from the
spiritland and although it is with sad
ness we bid adue to the year past, we
will haste to greet with a hearty well
come the new year that has dawned
upon our vision upou the world. May
our future prospects become brighter
and as the year advances let US resolve
at the commencement of this another
year we will follow the advice of one
OF our great poets and endeavor in all
things to act well our parts; there lies
all the honor. Let nothing dishearten
us, no difficulties arrest our progress.
no dangers deter US in the performance
OF duty. Admit into your vocabulary
no such word as fail. If hope should
not crown your efforts as you desire,
be patient and wait for it. "Wait'' I
say not in idleness, but as the storm
tossed mariner struggling with wind
and waves waits for the day of sun
shine and calm. Hope is a powerful
influence for good: it inspires us all to
courageous effort. 1t should be called
the great motive power of all improve
ment of the worlds progress, for if
hope could utterly die out of the heart
which happily is impossible, exertion
Of every kind would soon cease. Let
US hold communion with ourselves for
a brief season on this occasion and re-
viewing the deeds of the past year,
decide whether we are better and wiser
combined with brighter prospects and
a more endearing spirit for enterprise
than we possessed at this date last
year. Let us allow our inauguration
to wander back with the eye of retro
spectiOn upon the past, and gather
from the deeds written there by the
finger of time "admonition and exam
pie for the future" l know friends in
the great 'storm of life, our banks are
very apt to drift far apart. Times
stream in its swift flowing motion has
borne US along aud we are nearing the
sea of active life to take our positions
with the thrOng, therefore all our en-
energies will be needed to keep us in
the path of duty. Truly this is com
mencement; therefore let us set a high
price on our leisure moments. thew
must not be wasted, they are as sands
of precious gold to US. Probably ex-
pended they will procure for us brill
liant future, "yes" they will build
US up a monument that is fair and
pleasant for us in the autumn of our
lives to look upon one that will soothe
with a self approving thought of life
well spent-the setting SUI of life let
me ask how many there are among US
willing to devote ourselves to that
process of slow toilsome self culture
which is the price of great success? I
fear not many. Could we soar to emil
nance on the tardy wings of genius the
world would then be peopled with per-
sons of Importance, but this can never
be, for whatever aptitude for particular
pursuits nature may donate to her
favOrite children, she conducts none
but the labOrious and studious to dis
tinction. Have we yet to learn the
throne of fame must be mounted step
by step, each added ray must be
the result Ofintense application. Our
intelligent men and women have been
persons of thought as we'll as persons
of actions. Let us take as an example
in this instance our magnificent rolling
in the pride of their mighty waters,
owe their greatness to the hidden
springs of the mountain nook, and it is
thus the wide sweeping influence of
distinguish persons date its origin from
hours of privacy resolutely employed
in efforts after self development. 1t is
therefore important to every one to
improve their intellects time and tai
ents. The mind IS the glory of the
person; the power of the cOuntenance
to attract depends more on the
thOughtfulness of the soul than upon
its conformity to the laws of beauty.
Seeing how much the success of life
depend upon outward impressions, it is
important that we should robe our
selves in the attractive dignity of
thought. God never put man or
woman upon this beautiful world
without giving them something to do
in it or for it-some visible, tangible
work to be left as a monument.
Is there nothing, however small,
that you can do with your pen and
your knowledgeP Is there no little
tract to be written, no simple volume
which might reach some weary heart
cropping in darkness longing for light
find entrance into some desolate home.
" She hath done what she could" is
world wide encouragement to work for
God the master and not yourself, and
your work would soon find a place in
the vinyard of the Lord. DO not lose
the blessings of your present state in
reaching after something either future
or immaginary. Seek to find out your
present duties, do not ask to have your
world enlarged, do your present work
until we reflect upon it we are scarcely
aware how much the sum of human
happiness in the world is indebted to
this one feeling-sympathy-we catch
inspiration and power to go on per-
forming our duties from human pres
ence, kind words and cheerful smiles.
We live in this beautiful world sur
rounded by many mercies but exposed
to many sorrows. Life is composed of
many days, but they need not be COM
FORTRESS even though it be our lot to