The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-31
PASSING AWAY.
A Few thoughts at the Close OF the
Year.

The wear Is diving in the night II was but
li--ie while ago that We took a stranger by
the hand and gave him hearty welcome az
the threshold. a. parting guest LETT rs VINO
should not return our way again Ana now
the sometime stranger has become
familiar. and he. too. passes out ana we
shall zee him no more. 1t carries with y
nothing 81 sentimeniality. but Of true and
lofty sentiment instead. that we should take
account az these wears a. they pass, and
consider where they found us. and where
they have left Us Astronomy would not
nerhaps lie thought 20 hold close relation 10
tbe moral or 70 the religious life. but Il Il
the astronomical feature Of the year that
gives il it, most marked characteristic, ana
enables rs TO appropriate a wholesome
lesson. For as il il 20 the position which
the Creator has given this whirlng worid
Of ours in its orbit that we owe the charms
and the changes Of the seasons. which serve
10 mark the movement OF the hands on the
dial face OF the year-now from sunlight 10
shadow. and a.-in from withered leaves ana
cold and snow TO the bloom. the radiance
and warmth Of summer-so II -, by these
ever-varving changes we mark the progress
Of the year: and II Is by the recurrence OF a
particular one. as that OF the winter
solsfice, that we note the completion OF an
other cycle. We look out during the day,
and we see snow and sleet and barrenness
,r wood and field. which but few weeks
ego rere clothed in verdure or decked with
~. beauty Of the lilies We look up 10 the
heavens al night. and we miss the familiar
consultations that greeted our eyes but
little while ago. and instead we see orlon,
who comes with the cold and goes with II,
-ssh 4.
SIRIUS flashes upon the glistening earth the
light az a blazing sun a thousandfold brighter
than our own. A we note these and other
changes we are also to realize, a. otherwise
We should not, that smother year has passed.
and that we are brought - much nearer the
rares Of eternity II Is but natural. too. at
this time that tender memories II other
davs should come before Us. and that We
should think how on. hv one our friends
/ have raS-ei await stems 50 long ago.-
and left u dcsoiate. siut 10 those Of ad-
vancel years there - great compensation IN
the thought that every recurring year brings
u nearer 10 them, brings = nearer the end
II our Journey. The way has been hard and
weary al times. and a. the loved ones have
| fallen IS the way il has become lonely
travelling Eut ii viii not he long nOw.
some day not distant the gate wall swing
open Tor us. and then what meeting that
will be. Nor should we lament the swift
/ fying year, Well has the oct said
Heaven gives our years Of fading strength
Indemrifying feetness.
And those Of youth seeming length
Proporfioned to their sweetness
The Young mar well rej0icc az the pass
ing away OF the old year and the ushering ~
Of the new with all its possibilities; but ths
Christian Of maturer years Is content, II hs
docs not as spontaneously rejoice. that II
brings him GU; III the storm into the calm
from out the shadows Of earth into the
radiance Of eternity. Christian Work.