The evening Republican., 1902-07-21
"a HAPPY NEW YEAR"
1t Is n Source of Happiness to RrguH
Sunshine to Others All the
Year Round,


what shall l wish thee. what can be
found,
Bringing thee sunshine all the year round
Where is the treasure, lasting and dear,
That shall insure thee Happy New
Year,?
Faith that increaseth, walking in light,
Hope that aboundeth. Joyous and bright;
Love that Is perfect, casting out fear
These shall insure thee a Happy New
Year,"
In wishing the old "a Happy New
Year. it would always appear az
though the wish should be supple
mented by the word "comfortabIe."
One day, at even, a dear old lady
said gratefully: There! don't
think | have had single pain to.
day." and when she was half SPORT
lively congratulated on the welcome
respite, she replied: well, that is
about the greatest thing that old
people can hope for-freedom from
pain and exemption from suffering
Lie becomes pleasant and desira bic
If only pain will keep away" She
or physical conditions only. Rooted
and grounded in the principles of our
most holy faith, there was no need
of anxiety so far as the more vital
questions Of spiritual necessities
were to be considered. This leads up
to the difference that exists between
happiness and comfort. One seems
to relate to the body and worldly sur
roundings. while he other must have
to do with the mind and spirit. Over
and over again on these pages is ex-
pressed the wish that all old people
could be exempt from great pain.
The petition in the Prayer Book for
old people and young children is one
that impresses its propriety on every
kindly and well regulated mind. Mel
ther childhood nor age has much
strength with which to bear or resist
suffering. The helplessness in either
case makes distress doubly pathetic.
The child has not acquired strength
with which to meet it, with the old
the strength is spent, and so with
both endurance is at low ebb.
Yet in the face of all this there is
n treasure to be found bringing sun
shine all the year round to the be-
lever in Gods promises, no matter
what the physical condition. Midst
declining years the splendid mind of
Victor Hugo never tlickered, and
courage never waned in view of life's
decline--that is, the earthly life.
"Winter is on my head and eternal
spring is in my hearty What brave,
beautiful testimony bearing on the
whole outlook on life. both that
which is temporal and that which is
eternal! The summing up in the Sec
ond verse before us tells the broad,
comprehensive recipe for happiness
which endures: Faith that in
creaseth: Hope that aboundeth:
Love that is perfect--casting out
fear" These in very truth will en-
sure happy New Year.
Such happiness we most heartily
and sincerely wish all our dear old
folks for the New Year. And very
earnestly also we wish them a COM
Portable year. We fear there is some
times disposition toward cant" in
discussing some very plain questions
or theories. Because a person is q
Christian, he can't help feeling pain.
Being very sincere Christian does
not entirely prevent the dread of
suffering. There may be resignation
in times of bodily distress. but the
| desire to be relieved is none the less
great. A man regarded with half
amused though not unkindly express
sion the look of concern that in
creased on the face of his old mother
, as a violent thunderstorm was dark.
ly threatened one night on the
Sound. "Why, mother" he said, at
length. 81 thought you were Chris.
tian and afraid of nothing?" At
which the good but spunky old lady
replied: swell, l trust and think I
am a Christian; but for all that, I
don't want to be drowned" The JUS
tifiable pluck Of such sensible an
swsr does one good. 1t is no proof
that a person is unwilling or afraid
to die when the time really comes,
because he experiences natural ap.
prehension or qualms at the sudden
approach Of danger. 1t is no proof,
either, that anyone is not very sim
cere Christian because he extremely
desires &c he wei. and cn'.s.-tah'"