Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-12-20
NEW YEAR In THE HOME.
Whatever the Life Has Been the
True-Hearted Meet the New Year
with Hope for Be'tterment.

There are few that enter upon a
new year without the hope Of the
resolution that however good or poor
the life, work and pleasure, have
been during the past, the coming
year shall witness improvement in
their quality. Those who feel that
the record of the previous year has
been, in the main, good, are stimu-
lated to further efforts; those whose
hearts are sore because of what lies
before them long earnestly for an
improved condition of affairs during
the days to come. So, whatever the
life has been, however the work has
Jared, the true-hearted everywhere
meet the new year with hope and
prayer that in its months they may
Rise on stepping stones of their dead
selves to higher things"
1t is not to be expected, writes
Elizabeth Lord Condit, in Minneapolis
Housekeeper, that the homekeeper
or the housewife shall be exempt
from the number of those who desire
to reach greater excellence. With
her it may not mean more of individ-
ual work, but it may mean more of
giving the mind to work that is un-
pleasant or disliked. 1t may mean a
stronger effort to systematic work,
or to perform it in orderly fashion
en- the part of those who have little
method in work, or who do things
in desultory, haphazard way.
1t may mean for some the putting
of conscience into the work; for
others the gradual apprehension of
the uplifting truth that only in the
discharge of duty-whether it be the
performance of homely household
tasks that often seem to exhaust
body and mind or in more congenial
cmployment-they advance toward
the realization of the highest ideals;
and, if the spirit has serene control,
this is accomplished with the least
friction possible, the least waste of
physical and mental strength.
When a woman comes to recognize
her personal responsibility in the
faithful, cheerful doing of her work
as essential to the fulfllment of the
Divine plan-not simply for herself,
but for the betterment of the world
she becomes a conscious worker
with God, and desire for self-advance-
ment gradually recedes into the
background She does not efface
herself, she respects herself, and
thus mmands-whatever her work
the respect of every right-minded
person, and grows into broader,
stronger, sweeter, nobler soul day by
day. Her outlook embraces both
horizons-the earthly and the heavenly.
This much of comfort every ear
nest and tired worker should take for
her refreshment at the beginning of
the year. When eyes ache because
of close scrutiny, nothing rests the
strained or weary nerve like the far
off gaze. The broader field of vision
calls into play fresh set of muscles,
the tension is relaxed, and, after a
little, the eye can return to the mar
rowest limits with renewed vigor and
brightness.
So it is with the wearied home
keeper. There is such a sameness in
the necessary round of homework;
such daily repetition of toll; three
meals day to be prepared by ones
own hands or planned for another to
provide; the family Zig leaves" to
be made ready and looked after for
daily or special use; the house to be
kept fresh, in order, and ready for
family occupation or friendly visit;
and the general oversight of the
home with all that implies of fore
thought which may include range
of months. If, to all this, is added
the care and training of a growing
family, and also a very limited fnan-
cial ability, the strain on a strong
woman's strength is tremendous; on
weaker woman is often more than
she can bear.
See, then, the need of deliberately
changing the range of vision at least
once year. Perhaps the relief OBJ
tanned then will convince of the wis
dom of more frequent looking off be.
yond the narrower horizon Of home
cares, duties and pleasures, into the
broader one of Gods great world
and the still broader one where mind
and spirit learn to interpret the
great truths of life and love to the
material comprehension and redemp-
ton. May the New Year bring this
ioy and refreshment to ALI
New Year,s superstitions.