The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-29


How shall we meet its 1nal dayr
The time for settling up the years ac-
count and closing the book of 1892 is at
hand. We linger overrrs pages, noting
the many blessings showered upon US
from the hand of a merciful Father; a
liberal sprinkling of sorrows and mis-
takes, many - perhaps all - readi.
ly traceable to ignorant or willful sins,
for neither of which can we offer the
slightest excuse; and the golden oppor-
tunities unheeded, of aiding our fellow
creatures by look, word, deed or ex.
ample.
But why should we pause TO consider
the marred and blurred pages of the old
year, or the pure, fresh ones of the
new? Because only the brute lives for
the moment, leading an existence Of
disconnected dots. The brute-hke man,
to whom the past has no stimulus and
contains nc warning, and the future no
invitation, passes the annual milestones
without thought, repentance or regret.
The wise mans life is as line with q
purpose in it, directed by what lies be-
hind and aiming well at something
dutdtl. 0Oti III pCI III lJ-
results because II looks before and af-
ter, is cumulative. has its solid founda-
tions and its spires of desire. And II
we wish our life work to have any
measure of the frmness and success of
the Creators gSat works, it must be
made, like His, to grow with reasona-
bleness out of the past and look with
purpose toward the years TO come.
There are no times so appropriate for
this wise and linking meditation as be-
ginnings and endings-the close of the
year when reason has action, with it's
lessons and promptings, behind it, and
the start, when purpose has action, all
fresh and unsullied, before it.
After duly considering the old year
let us turn TO the new, this volume of
three hundred and sixty-ive pages,
everyone of which we shall fill with
some sort Of record. AS we wish it TO
be a satisfactory one, let us aim TO
make the very best of life; remember
ing that we were created in the image
of God and that, through His promised
strength, we are able to do all things
well that may be given us to do. In
order to attain such success, however,
we must keep, each day, the resolutions
made at the dawning Of the year, and
make the very best possible record on
that day, thus opening the way for an
improvement on the morrow, and so on.
The year 1898 will be made memora-
BILE to posterity by the Columbian ex-
position, In which the nations of the
globe unite TO celebrate the glorious
results achieved through the constant
and persistent efforts of one man. Let
us not, then, while garnering the wis
dom harvested from this great interna-
tional exhibit, forget the lesson taught
by the devotion OF Columbus 10 his life
purpose.
Having formulated and crystallized
our New Years resolutions, let us ever
be mindful that, as johnson says: Hell
Is paved with good resolutions" and.
unless we have resolution enough In
our character-good solid resolution.
compounded Of will and wisdom, and
the mixture thoroughly permeated with
the grace of God-to Ire them, they
will only go 10 improve that pavement
which is already kept in very good re-
pair.
We must not anticipate failure, but
advance In the assurance that on New
Years day of 1894 We shall be able "a
review with gratincation the individual
and collective strides made during 1898
MARY M. PRICE,