The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-02-14
THE NEW YEAR.

George Ilepwerth, In New York Herald.
We spend our years Us Il tale that is told
Psalms. xc,9,
Custom has made certain seasons
significant and impressive. In them
selves all days are alike, and differ no
more than so many blades OF grass.
They are chcckcred by sunshine and
rain, by heat or cold but the recur-
ring seasons bear Il close resemblance
to each other from century to century.
The suns chariot is driven along the
higher way in summer, while in win
ter it sweeps nearer the horizon. A
kind Of solemn monotony marks the
passage Of time, and but for the aSSo-
Citations connected with it every day
would be like every other of its kind.
1t has, however, been the habit Of
men from time immemorial-fIom as
far back rs history can send its glance
to set apart a few days IN the years
aggregate for special ccrenonals, and
on these days each celebrates the oc-
casion in his own way, some with
unusual hilarity and others with seri-
Gus reflection.
The day on which the year begins is
OF course wholly arbitrary. 1t is a
purely imaginary line drawn between
the past and the future-a mile post
set up by science for its own convcn-
iencc. 1t is also herald on the hill
top announcing that twelve more
months have been drawn from the
treasury Of eternity for our profit. |
may continue and say that is Il stately
and digniflcd messenger from the
heavens, reminding US Of whitening
hair and a general cnfeeblcmcnt Of
the facultics-solemn precursors Of
the approaching hour when the ledger
of our careers below will be sealed
with a seal and we must draw the cur
tain aside with Il last farewell to
life.
On New Years Day we take our
position on a high coign OF vantage,
looking first forward and then back
ward, and give free reign to those two
most marvellous faculties with which
God has endowed us-McmOry and
Anticipation.
Memory! That mysterious quality
Of the soul by which the past becomes
once more the present. Blot it out
and We should be mere machines; the
moral purposes Of life would be de-
Memory is the Keystone OF
the arch, without which the whole
structure would crumblc into ruin.
By its means the experience OF bygone
years are kept so fresh that the mind
can determine what is best to do and
what Is best not to do. Memory is
the foundation Of love also--love for
our children and love Of God. BY its
magic a man recalls the benefits he
has received, and straightway graft
tude springs up in his heart; he sum-
mors the deeds which have brought
him misery, and forthwith regret and
and resolution come into
being. In the stiffness OF the night
tie mother liyes over again her life
with the dear ones who are gone, and
tears spring afresh. Then the mind
solves the problem, and before morn
ing she cries, "Not my will, but Thine,
be DONE"
Anticipation! What would we be
without it !? 1t Is like the electric
current that thrills along our nerves
and gives us health In place Of the
pain from which we have been suffer-
ing. If we live in our yesterdays we
may also live in our tO-morrOws. The
sturdy soul sees success long before it
arrives, and is inspired thereby. We
may enjoy the fruition Of our efforts
by anticipating them, as In winter we
are encouraged to bear the cold by
of the spring and summer
which are sure to come. Not what
we are now, not what we are doing
now, but what We shall be and what
We hope to do-thcsc constitute our
chief happiness. The human heart
that bears the crushing weight Of
atiiiction may by this power Of antici-
patton fnd It's sweetest peace and
In thinking of that far away
future when separation shall be
into eternal reunion, and