The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-08
HOW IS THE PAGE, TURNED
OVER ON NEW YEARS DAY?
DIR. Whitaker " rites of Man, Mans UnsoivabIe Mys-
terry. Barrel of kndlings to Warm
the Philosophers Toes.
BY II. III. WHITAKER.


new, than we did during the old year,
ana so we formed some very good res
buttons and promised ourselves that
at the end of the new year there
should not be SO many blurred pages
IN our years record book as were in
the book Of the last year.
Just one week has gone by. and To
that extent, We have put ourselves to
the test, by which experience we may
form some idea how the year will be-
IL We have kept our good resolves for
one week, we are assured of the fact
that ii is possible for us to live right
seven more days; and If seven days,
we can, by the use of the same amount
OF Watchfulness, prayerfulnesS and
prudence. run safely on, for any mum
Der of days; and therefore n whole
year, and a whole life. Why not?
Time, place and circumstance have
much to do with shaping and controlI-
ing our lives. What man is today,
when the sun is shining and every
thing is pleasant about him, he may
fail 20 be tomorrow, when the sun is
obScured by the storm cloud. he is
among other and altogether different
people and circumstances are changed
/ have seen some very pious people at
church, when there We're good nfiu-
ences all about; but. | have seen those
same people at other places. in the
Il
hardly knew them, their conduct and
conversation were so entirely changed.
1t has taken man Il long time to
learn the fact that he is an insolvable
problem. Work him any way you
may he can't be equaled. He's a math-
ema teal, scientific, religious puzzle to
himself. and to the angels as well, l
doubt not. AT any rate, he don't al
ways do like he thinks he will. and
everybody knows he don't do as he
promises, al the time.
am getting along in years, (though
by no means as old as some of the
old patriarchs). and l have tried all
these years to- find out just what sort
of a being I am: but, would you be-
lieve it, / am still in the fog; or more
literally speaking. in my alb. abs. /
have found this TO be true, however
without Christ I can do nothing; but.
as Paul said. "can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth
me-"
I am trying TO learn: but in the
multiplicity of teachers and teachings.
| am afraid sometimes, that / learn
more things that do me harm than
things that are profitable. When I
have listened for awhile to the wis
dom of the world. and begin to mag
inc that I am becoming wise, and to
think that I am growing strong in
the ability to resist temptation, and
live above the possibility of stumbling
or erring there comes TO me voice
saying: Learn of me: / am meek
and lowly" And the same sweet voice
adds: Watch and pray lest We enter
into temptation for the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak. And
then j remember the proverb, which
fell from the lips of a very wise man,
who spake from said experience, when
l.
ton and naughty spirit before q
fall and. when, added TO these adj
monitions. there come to me the sad
recollections of the stumblings faliings
and erringS of the past. / am forced
to cry out in the language of des-
pairing disciple: Lord save us: we
Derish!"
But, when / remember the Master
arose and rebuked the wind, and
there was a great calm on the sea. L.
am comforted with the thought thai.
if / cry unto him, AZ The fearful els
ciples did, He Will speak peace - my
soul i'm the midst Of all my troubles.
] write these things because. as NOR
tails, we need to think. So long as we
go laundering on without motive or
purpose in the darkness, we may ex-
pect that disasters will befall us; but.
when We think and plan and pray and
work Alright, the way becomes so plain
the way aring man, though fool can
walk in it safely and happily.
Yes, we must try to keep the pages
of the New Years record clean. If
in the wind up offthe old year, we
were carrying any hatred or malice or
ill-Wil!; we were harbOring any un
kind thoughts toward any mortal; We
were cherishing any sinful desire CT
purpose, let us not bring any of these
things over into the New Year, to mar
our peace and hinder our usefulness as
workers in the Masters vineyard. May
this be. to all of us, the very best
year of our lives.
TO save my life l can't settle this
cotton business. Last year the price
was up, and ii really looked like it
would stay so: for it was understood
there was d great dearth of cotton
which one crop, however great it
might be. could hardly make up; but,
you Sc how it is. | am inclined To
the opinion the people. generally, did
not take the advice L gave, about
year ago, when / tod them, in SO many
Wordg not TO risk too much on cotton
hut plant other things. L was afraid
then. tempted by the high price. they
would oyerdo the matter and find
themselves in the same condition in
which the tobacco men were last fall
farmers. when the price of tobacco
went down, held meetings and dis
cussed the situation. and. in some in
stances, they passed a nurcber of high
sounding resolutions: but, the price
kept low down all the same. Ihe
truth was. there was more tobacco
than the world had need of. and of
course it would not SELL I guess that's
about the way it is now with cottorE
more of it than the world needs just
now.
But. farmers had better not do like
those Texas men who piled uD their
cotton and burnt il, the other day
That's foolish. I've got more old hats
than | need; and they would sell for
little if anything: but | won't burn
them. I'd rather give them away.
And. ] think. it would be decidedly bet
ter. every way, to give the surplus cot
ton to we poor fellows who have none.
BY giving away about two millions of
bales on the condition. that they were
to be hid away and not offered for sale.
1T is very certain the price would go
up. and all hands would finally make
a good thing of it. | would promise TO
hide out ten bales, and hold them until
the price went up to ten cents; and
have no doubt but what scores of