The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-01-05
We hail with smiles its dawning gray
How shall we meet its final dayr'

HOW snail we meet Its nnal oayF
The time for settling up the years ac-
count and closing the book Of 1892 is at
hand. We linger over its pages, noting
the many blessings showered upon US
from the hand of merciful Father: q
liberal sprinkling Of so-rows 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 tho
new? Because only the brute lives for
the moment, leading an existence OF
disconnected dots. The brute-llke man,
to whom the past has no stimulus and
contains no warning, and the future no
invitation, passes the annual milestones
without thought, repenta nee or regret.
The wise mans life is as d line with q
purpose in it, directed by what lies be-
hind and aiming we'll at something
ahead. Gods labor is permanent in its
results because it looks before and at
ter, is cumulative. has its solid founda-
tions and it's spires of desire. And if
we wish our life work to have any
measure of the frmness and success OF
the Creators great 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 mcdita ton as be-
ginnings a1d enciings-the close of the
year when reason has action, with its
lessons and prDnptings, behind it, and
the start, when purpose has action. all
fresh and unsullied, before it.
After drly considering the old year
let us tErn to the new. this volume of
three hundred and sixty-6ve pages,
everyone Of which we shall fill with
some sort of a record. AS we wish it to
be 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 De given us to do. In
order to attain such success, however,
we must keep, each day, the resolutions
mode at the Gawning OF the year, and
make the very best possible record on
that day. thus opening the way for an
Improvement ON the morrow. and 50 on.
The yea 1895 win be made nemora-
bic to posterity by the Columbian cx-
position, in which the nations of the
globe unite to celebrate the glorious
results achieved through the constant
and persistent efforts of crne man. Let
rs not, then, while gar1lerin2 the wis
, ,iom harvested from thu. great interna-
tionai exhibit forgot the lesson taught
+; by the devotion OF Colun bus 70 his life
purpose.
| Having formulated and cryaallized
our New Years resolutions let MS ever
be mindful that, as johnson sx.ys: Hell
is paved with good rosolUtips," and,
: unless we have resolo ton enough in
our cha,acter-good solid resolution.
compounded of Will and wisdom, and
the mixture thoroughly permeated with
the grace Of GoG--to lioe them, they
will only go to improve that pavement
which is already kept in very good re
pair.
We must not anticipate failure. bu;
advance in the assurance that on New
/ Years day of 1854 've shall be able tr
I review with gratif .ation the indiividu:s'
! and collective strides made during 1873
MAEy. NJ. PRICE