Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-12-31
RING OUT THE OLD-RING IN
THE NEW"

lin NH ~
The death dew is gathering thick and fast
upon the old year and 10 few hours q
mighty monarch will come over the wave
less ocean OF space to contest the empire OF
earth. Yes the sad old year is drawing
his latest breath, and the happy new year
comes close upon his last sigh The new
year cometh out of the east under the clear,
cold starlight. But the stars, needless Of
an atom, roll on and shine the same as on
that morn when first they sang together
Already, in other lands, has he been greeted
with joyous shouts and merry markings, and
now be is on his way over the sea whose dark
waves roll forever the same-unmindfu! of
the departure of the Old and the advent of
the New.
1t was but a week ago that we solemnized
the annual recurrence Of that scene enacted
centuries ago at Bethlehem, and now it be-
comes our pleasant task to celebrate the
birth OF the new year.
Whilst the future is always shrouded In
mystery, and we cannot foresee with Ger
tainty the happenings to come, yet we can
with profit complacenty mediate on the
mistakes of the past and avoid those reefs
and rocks upon which our hopes and aspi.
rations have been wrecked.
With the opening Of the new year comes
a new volume In life's history AS imam
that is born of woman is Of few days and
full of trouble" how can we penetrate the
yelled future to ascertain whether it will be
filled by our hands or our survivors. The
volume Just completed, wherein our lily
spent moments, our wrecked ambitions, the
lamented losses occasioned by the visitation
of the fell destroyer, blasted hopes, and our
frultless efforts at amendment, are recorded
side by side with the brief and fleeing mo.
ments of Joy, the small successes and petty
slrifes that usually beset mans thorny path
through life, will be closed in few hours,
and forever.
With the new year there is room for work,
none for despair. Our misfortunes should
rather nerve the arm, fire the heart aud give
us terminated courage and vigor. II is well
known that the highest and noblest quail
ties of our human nature are brought out
by trouble and sorrow, the greatest men
have been those who have overcome diff
culties The mighty oak could never be
monarch of the forest II it grew in hot
house and never wrestled with the storms.
1t Is not best for US that our life paths should
be perfectly smooth Sahara is level, while
Italy is rugged. Life means duty done and
progress made and character developed, and
these demand difficulties to be overcome and
victories to be won. True that many sob.
bling heart looked forward with hope TO the
year that is dying and found only grave
true, the chilling winds of adversely and
trouble may have paralyzed ambition and
hushed every song of the heart, yet these
misiortunes and disappointments should
nerve us to meet the great emergencies that
are to overtake US in the year to come. Let
us bear in mind that adversely, resolutey
met, strengthens US, but weakly yielded to,
II destroys US.
1t has been wisely said that the begin.
ming of the year is the time at which to form
new resolutions. Let Us all haste to make
them, and when made, strive earnestly to
live up to their strict meaning God has
given us sufficient knowledge to discrim.
mate between good and evil. 1t only re-
auires strong will and perseverance TO
overcome the fralties OF human nature.
Let us learn to live more humbly in the
future. Let us have done with pride and
haughtiuess, and all such things. Let us
he simple. minded, sincere aud earnest in
all good thoughts, words and actions. Let
us think better of humanity, and reflect that
there are many in all ranks and stations OF
life who love US, but are too timid or arti
fetal to be demonstrative except when their
sympathies are aroused by seeing us in af-
Fiction.
The old year is slowly dying The new
year cometh over the sea IN demonstrating
nearer and nearer Hank the bells chime,
and to their music the old year passes, float
ing away like those wild sounds into the
great formless gulf of the past The old
year has gone forever, and the new year has
come
"Ring out the wild bells to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light,
The year Is dying in the night,
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die
Ring out the DID, ring 10 the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow,
The year Is going, let him go.
Ring out the false, ring 10 the new"
u.nn,, Main Vaar In nnr patrnna and
friends. and may their fondest anticipations
lie more than realized during the year is the
sincere wish of the SENTINEL.