Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1897-01-07
A KIND SALVATION.

greeting was heard from every
quarter, "A Happy New Year,
Nay, it was not alone youthful voices
that uttered the shout. Strong
manhood and tremulous age repeat
ed the cry. Kinsmen and friends
we're almost vociferous in uttering
the salutation. New Years day has
passed, however, and special greet
ling will soon cease. 1t is profitable
to inquire, therefore, how sincere
these salutations were. What do
they imply? How, far can the kind
wish be gratifed? What then does
the spontaneous greeting imply ? A
desire for the veal of the person ad-
dressed. It is prayer that the
year may begin IN gladness and
close in peace.
1t ought to be recollected, how>
ever, that life to be even moderately
happy must be upright. Genuine
felicity is hardly to be expected this
side of paradise but so much of en-.
IJoyment can be found in life if one
will pay the price for it, that every
one should soberly ask, how can I
make my existence richest to
myself and to others We dismiss
as an impertinence, the queE-
ton, SIS life worth living
and inquire can we acquire
that amount of blessedness
which is within the reach of ell 2"
1t must be obtained by integrity.
He that walketh uprightly, walketh
surely. a good conscience is an IN
speakable treasure. No man can
escape self-condemnation who ship
wrecks virtue. Man is so constitut>
ed that he cannot safely disregard
principle. 1t is sorrowful to read
in the daily prints of young men
that have entered on a corrupt
career. The sorceress has beguiled
them with the cry, "Stolen waters
are sweet, and bread eaten in secret
is pleasant" Alas that they are
ignorant that the dead are in her
haunts, and her guests in the depths
of sheol.
Disturbances digs the grave of
manliness. Dishonesty is corrupt
ing and ruinous. Incidence is the
forerunner of vice. Life is a field
for work. An idle brain is the
DEVILS workshop. The noblest
laborer that ever trod the earth ex>
claimed, ''My Father worketh hither
to, and I am working" As it is
rank dishonesty to shirk work, it is |
despicable meanness to impose on
another's shoulders the work one
ought himself to do. There is no
sillier saying uttered than this
''The world owes me a living" We
doubt whether the world owes any,
body living. 1t is theatre which
God has given man for the exer>
else of his powers. 1t is honor
enough for anybody to be a CO.
worker with God. 1t saves one from
/ thousand temptations to have
useful to do. Noble &C
5ivity, temperance, uprightness, re-
igion are essential to happy life.
If anybody has intelligently uttered
he greeting, "a happy New Year."
le has virtually wished that his
riend be marked by such qualities.
How far can ones kind wishes be
yratiieda Not absolutely perhaps,
'ut they avail most if accompanied
~ nobleness on the part of him who
ltters the wish. We are social be-
ngs. Ones veal OR woe is largely
Effected by the spirit and departs
nent of his associates. Virtue is
no less than vice. An
UPRIGHT soul will kindle emulation.
Does one show industry and integ- \
ity in business, manliness and cour-
esy in his bearing, Christian consis-
ency in his speech and life? his
leighbors are constrained to honor
i'm. The moral atmosphere be-
ONES purer. Lookers-on are i'm
'elled to initiate him. They may
lot at once become perfect, but will
"a chouad ont of cr,osao. 49,. I