Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-07
Talks NOhb Re
cord Readers.
TAKING INVENTORY.

TAKING INVENTORY.
The successful business men of every
community take an inventory of their
stock once each year at least. and
some business enterprises are inventor
led each six months. II is necessary
to do this that the merchant or man.
ufacturer NAV take stock and estim-
ate his profit or loss during the year
Many things get crowded upon the
shelves as the months pass by and they
would be entirely overlooked except for
this annual checking up process. At
ter an itemized account has been
made of the stock the footings are
carried out requiring a week or more
of very hard work. and the merchant
is able to strike balance and deter
mine whether his business has been
satisfactory or not. There are ALWAYS
some goods that become shelf worn
and out of fashion and these are usu-
ally closed out at discount in order
that the stock may be kent up-to-date
and present a more inviting appear
ance And the public commends the
merchant who thus cleans up his stock
once or twice year. 1t is the rroper
thing TO do.
But how about the individual citi-
zen who has no stock of merchandise'
Each of us possess something of far
greater value than merchandise or
manufactured products - character.
Would it not be time well spent if we
should take an occasional inventory of
/ ourselves and try and determine Just
what we have accomplished during the
past year? There have beer some fail
ures. of course. but how many times
have we succeeded in doing that which
is pleasing in His sight and which
has assisted some unfortunate soul
to take a little broader view of life.
There are upon the shelves of our
memory so manv good resolutions, care
fully made year ago. that we dis
like to disturb them. but if we are
taking stock of ourselves carefully we
|
must enter them upon our yearly
record and ''close them OUT with a
determination to do better next year
Close out the old stock. clean mp the
shelves. and push forward to better
things 1t is not intended that we
should live In the past, ANYWAY. hut
in the present. striving TO do our best
each day. The following little bit of
homelv verse contains valuable sugges-
tions for each of us as we enter upon
this year of 1909:
Pick out the best of the old. my dear.
And carry ii on to the new
Mingle the old with the fresh new wear.
In measure and portion true.
All that has proved to be foul and
false.
That is the part 10 lose:
Now, as the old year limps and halts.
Now is the time to choose.
Let all the sadness and badness go.
Keep, hut the sweet and fine:
Leaven the new with the old and so
Make the new year divine.
Hold fast that which is good" nv
dear,
But there is better to win:
So eagerly welcome the glad new year
And help the good times begin.
Barring sickness or other misfortune.
the new year has in store for each of
ms just about what we decide to put
into the DAYS. weeks and months
which follow. The world is liberal
pavmaster and all who strive to do
their best are usually abundantlv re-
warded for their sacrifices and efforts.
We have no right TO expect more from
this new year than we are willing to
put into it ourselves If you are
merchant. do your best to win success
If YOU are farmer strive to make the
farm pay YOU we'll it YOU are a labor
ing man. be industrious and steady
and you will not long be seeking en-
plovment before someone will want
your services; if you are wife and
mother strive to make YOUR home
hsllowed spot. where husband and
children may be inspired to better
living and to purer lives; if you are
husband and father. do not shirk your
responsibility in the home. but rather
seek to bring jov and pleasure and
comfort there. May the new year
bring prosperity and peace and prove
the best in Alma's history.