The state herald., 1904-12-30
} The Old Year
and the New 1
E-y,r.-,l,r-..,n,.-.-,arI

The past year has meant mary
things to many people.
Tragedy and comedy have play "a
hide and seek In the most unexpected
places. Joy and sorrow have gone
hand in hand in many lives. Wishes
have not ended in fulfillment even
when most confidently expected: and
Fortune. with her usual fickleness. has
smiled where her presence was hither
to unknown.
The passing year has brought many
gifts there was no refusing. On some
1t showered blessings until all the
world was golden to its favorites, and
life q happiness SO great 1t crowded
out all remembrances of gr!efs that
were old. or yet to be born. To others
It has been tho graveyard OF dead
hopes. the burying ground Of happt
ness, the final resting place OF energy,
ambition and ideals. To all It has
brought some experience that forever
will stand monument-like In our lives
to mark the birth of new capacities
within ourselves for good or evil: the
awakening Of some powerful influence
for veal or woe.
Twelve short months. and how much
they mean! A few hundred ard some
odd days. and hundreds OF lives are
marred forever, or made happy for
time. Lived well and profitably, they
have brought contentment and clear
conscience to help us face the coming
year and buoy us up In the sturdy
faith that the future cannot but be "a
bright as was the past. Ill-spent. thOse
few short months have banished hope
from many life. and dimmod many
an illustrlous name. II Is the mistake
of the moment that makes the misery
OF lifetime, nor can repentance
brighten II again. Few OF us arc capa
BILE OF planning evil. but many OF US
succumb to the unexpected opportu
nifty. The strong Withstand. tho weak
faltcr and fall. and yet the world In
sists that both should be measured by
tho same stern standard OF right md
wrong, with no allowance made for
weakness. II is so easy to be good
when one has all one wants, so simple
to resist temptation that has no allure
ments, 80 comforting to sit In the con.
scious rcctitude that knows no dIspo.
whose lives are constant struggle
TO do the things they ought not to do,
and In whom ono triumph Is n greater
moral victory than lifetime OF right.
cousness on the part OF the untempt.
cd.
We all have a well defined wish nj
this season Of tho year to turn clean
page in tho book OF life. TO Improve.
II possible. 10 perform miracles Of
kindness and goodness.
The universal desire Is 10 be st
peace with mankind. To succeed one
Iaust temper Justice with mercy. until
tho accepted position is reversed ard
|. Is mercy which Is tempered with
justice. To ourselves we cannot he
too severe: TO the faults OF others, too
lenlent By our own mistakes let us
measure tho mlsdcmeanors OF those
about us. Let us profit by the temp
tations We have met. returning thanks
for the courage which has helped us
to withstand some. from our failures
gathering fresh courage for new at
tempt. Each heart knows It's own Bit
tcrness. A deep stratum OF sorrow
often lies close TO tho fairest surface
OF the knowledge born OF our expert.
oncc we must be generous. and deal
gently with the faillngs hardest to
undcrstnnd In others. Charity cover.
eth much, but alas. In too many cases
II In n garment worn threadbaro at the
scans. and In holes In many places.
To keep II whole and capable OF shell
tcring the needy Is task that would
prontably MI tho next year for those
Of us who will undertake Il; and
there should bo many such. II we
were only honest enough TO some
times mako the allowances for othors
We never fail 10 make for ourselves.
III there be some weaker one. give
me strength TO help her on" IN wish
that In charitable. practical and kind.
ly. and would make n splendid deyico
for 1905.