Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1913-01-09
THURSDAY. JANUARY =. 1918.
NOW WE ARE OFF


New Years. facing the days, the weeks
and the months of the year of our Lord
1913. The sun is not up very far and
the way is quite dark. Our eyes are
strained for such view as we can get,
but there is very little we can see or
know. We are feeling our way; and we
are taking guide from some of the stars,
dimmed by the reflected light of days
that are gone. The things we see clearly
are the things we have passed by, things
we cannot return to, and things for the
part which quickly fade away and merge
themselves in the prevailing darkness.
1t is not much we have learned and less
that we can remember. Unconsciously
we are driven in upon our hope. We
hope the year will be good to us, To
render ourselves deserving, we are will
ing to add that we hope that the year
will be good to our home, to our state,
to sur dear country and to our wonder
full world. When we wish people well
we expect something in return, and if
we get nothing in return we wonder if
it will ever be that the world will be
established in integrity and mutual kind
ness. Some of us have formed good
resolutions, and the fact carries with
it confession of sin; and if resolution
not to get grumpy is not included no
time should be lost in adding an adden-
dunn to that effect. Goodness and bad
ness are poor companions; and its futile
TO expect the year to be. good If we are
bad. That is sound philosophy. Good
luck does not care to climb barbed
wire fence, and take the risk, when by
going on little ways II can enter by a
convenient gate and receive hearty
welcome. Grumpy people are never
enhancing. If they are religious, they
are poor sticks at house warming. II
they have bargains, there is the fear
that hornets nest may be concealed.
II they offer themselves as companions,
they suggest the pleasures of solitude.
IL is worth good deal to be able to
carry around broken heart without
scratching people with the ragged edges
Of il. The heart is entitled to chance
to heal. and the sufferer is entitled to
his best chance to get trade started his
way. About the best thing for the fore.
bodbg of a gloomy nights sense enough
to know that its long lane that has
no turning We are apt to think evil
Of our way and that we are going to be
wrecked in It and brought to cliff in
the form Of pocket. where we shall
be caught like rats in trap and left tc
die miserably. The imagination, of infin-
lite reach, may be used as conveyance
to carry us into the pit, with its lurid
lights, or it may be converted into .
ladder Of the fashion OF Jacobs. We
want prosperous year. We cannot
realize on this desire by putting our
capital into grump and stumbling blocks.
Tho trouble about good resolutions il
that il takes 90 many Of them to cover
the ground. Some Of us who only resolve
- ~ cherry seem to get on very well.
II ID found that people will pay some.
thing for good nature, even while they
70 over with Us the disadvantages anl
the sutrages Of the high cost Of living
FoS another thing We ought to be a
good - We can be to one another because
We my not meet again. We want |
rood time. We cannot have an idea
goud dime without helping one anothe,
- kavs good time. There i . reason
Why We should take hold Of hands. y
than there may be the least Of falling
and - lesst Of fear IN the presence 81
danger. Il b astonishing how suddenly
The nns tnrns, sometimes into NOR,
ruGeed way Ia q stretch Of draRge,
rtod ~ veil paved street with the sug
Geall1n 81 perpetual care. A well KEEP
mind y largely our own affair. What
&xex ocr course We should carry will
~ OF Cwn flowers, with the more nee,
a ~ Wy BE- poor. Al many of 10 ar'
cuxs1 NJ TIE power 81 tie mind. q
oo1ly q " BY the power of mind ma,
- hept from falling IN. II il 4 swee
nmoltIon % pass away on q sunbeam
Ahov6 everything else We want to b
hnrpy; md II that pursuit We are start
IN at together. some weak and som
6tf9n3, ~ the uncertain pilgrimage q
III <3 T<rn1x H<fv Irxsr<n{ f