Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1891-01-03

his lamp burns low in the socket, the Pickering
shadows play upon the wall, the mournful chirp of
the cricket is heard Already we mark the heavy
breathing and well-nigh catch glimpse of
ghostly outline as it moves aside to give place for
new form.
He goes-taking with him all the joys and sor-
rows he brought us, all the pleasures and disap-
pointment-leaving to us legacy of clnging
memories. Busily and vigorously he piled the
shuttle of fate, weaving many strange and curious
patterns. For the White Ribboners be devised
quaint and checkered web. The scale of fortune
he kept ever bettering for them. Here victory,
there defeat sometimes radiant with hope,
sometimes in the slough Of despair; now the
Angel of Good seemed to hold sway, next the bag
of Evil rejocings one day and bitter anguish the
next. Yet there is solace in the thought that no
good is ever lost; that somewhere, somehow,
sometime it will be all gathered up and made to
do its part in filling the earth to funess with joy.
For this we know and feel that the seas which
daily gain upon the shore have ebb and flow con-
ditoning their march, and in this onward march of
the temperance wave there is visible gain upon
themselves of wrong Each fresh surge gathers
fresh ground. Might is not right, and right
though hampered and hindered will yet regain the
throne.
IT'S true the rum-fend still plies his trade, but
for the most part with the law clutching at his
throat He must needs skulk and smrk around to
dispense his elixir of death, slyly reckoning his
customer from among the walks of men, while
growing public sentiment is making his numbers
constantly dwinde. He dares not pursue bis
trade as other honest dealers under the open eye
Of day, but chooses rather the high noon of night.
and under the cover of thickest darkness, behind
colored screens, he seeks to entrap the innocent
and unsuspectng. But even here, while brewing
sin and hot-bedding crime, the strong arm of the
law is frequently outstretched and the mischief
worker brought to justice This, too, is a strong
prop for the Temperance cause.
But the shadows deepen and we must hasten
The quick winged angel draws nigh and our book
must be closed "What is writ is writ" and we
may not change it if we would. Whatever of sor
rows, failures, mistakes, or remisness the depart
ing year brought us, let us consider them, let US
review them, that we may extract the lesson each
one held for u.s. then place them, too, upon the
funeral pyre, while we drop tear for the weak
ness and frailty that bred them. 1t may be the
future will disclose the fact that though much of
our work seemed clumsy and defective, still we
"built better than we knew"
And now, as we brush away the last fond tear
for the dying year, let us pause long and earnestly
that we may plan broader and better for the New
Year, which stands at the portal all clad in mystery
That the temperance movement may gather
fresh speed for US in Arkansas, we must unity our
forces, gather up the latent and reserved, the I'M
employed material.
As stepping stone to this achievement ask
letter from each Union, whether active or dormant
giving me in detail the condition of the Union,
what you have done for the cause since last con-
vention, what you propose to do for the coming
year. From these letters will form q summary
and in the near future give you the result through
The CHRONICLE Let me have these letters
promptly and you shall have prompt report in
return
In conclusion, subscribe for The CHRONICLE,
which has heen and proDoses still to be your