The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-12-29
ThoufhfS for Metu year.

z1oue0tS Ior VeeO y ear
Happy New Year! I wish you q.
Happy New Year!" The words go
ringing through the house. upstairs
and down, like some glorious chime.
And as l wish to be in the general re-
joicing, I, too, wish everyone a Happy
New Year, and especially my House
hold Realm friends.
Why should we not rejoice and be
happy together? The old year was a
happy one, but may not the new year
be happier still? Is not this the sea-
son for new beginnings?
When the old page Of life is blotted
and soiled with mistakes and e%rasures.
we are glad to get to the bottom OF the
page and turn a clean, fresh leaf; and
one Of the greatest charms Of the new
year is, that 1t marks a time for turn
ing we a new leaf. The old year may
have been n of hope and d%isappoint-
ment, but the beginning Of the new
year is full of hope and anticipation.
It is a chance to commence over again.
No wonder then, that it is a a OF
good resolutions as we'll as happy
wfshess yet these self-same good reso-
buttons are often the very rocks upon
which many bright hopes are ship
wrecked.
Do not swear OFF" on too many
faults at once. 1t Is dangerous, and I
will tell you why.
In the first flush Of a new beginning
ave- I~~no ~,,n hitch nrd ma fool onv10Y
to anything. I doubt whether there
are as many noble thoughts in mind on
any other day in the year as upon New
Years day. Mistakes are to be remem-
bered, faults are to be left in the back
ground, and bad habits cast to the
four winds. There is no thought OF
failure. Is not this a new beginning?
Good resolutions are made by the yard.
and the first days of the new year are
full Of energy and noble purposes. We
are treading upon clouds. .
But alas! for poor, weak, human ma
ture. Our clouds part In the middle
and we come down with a thump. The
mistakes which we thought could be
so quickly remedied, loom up before US
like mountains. Faults stubbornly re-
fuse to stay in the background, and
habits cling to US like burrs. Is 1t any
wonder that rising, weak and disheart-
ened, we decide that there Is not much
use in trying again? Our new page ia
spoiled. There is a big blot on the
very first line. And SO we slip back
into the same old careless ways OF the
past, more weary and discouraged than
ever.
I do not believe in making new
years resolutions unless due allowance
is given to the exalted state of mind
at this time, and a wide margin is left
for inevitable mistakes and failures. 1t
is not possible to be rid of faults at a
single bound. One cannot be good all
at once. Habits bind like letters OF
steel and it is impossible to throw
them on and off at will. It takes time
and patience.
The new year, however. is full OF
possibilities to those who are undaunt-
ed by failures. A supreme faith In
ones self and ones undertakings is
half the secret Of success, and close
application and honest purpose Is the
other halt. We are indeed-as some
one has said-architects of u "
fortunes. Would it not be we'll then
to choose the old Latin quotation.
"Possunt quia posse videntur" (You
can because you think you CAM. TOR
our motto during the coming year:
And as for the happy wishes, let us
all help them to come true by trying
to brighten tho world . little TOT
Ell with whom We may come In con-
tact.-Household Guest. al