Year: 1876

=


to its close, and a new year about


to be ushered in, it behooves us to


be in a state of readiness for the
one and the other And first, are


we ready for the close of 1875.
Has the years work been accom-
plished. Do the closing days of
December find us fully abreast Of
our duties and our interests. Have
the multiform demands of our vari-
Gus vocations been met. Is the
merchant ready to strike his bal
ance, is the farmer rounding up the
business appeartaining to the agri
cultural year, are debtor and cred
itor prepared to adjust their differ
ences?


The New year comes on apace.
And as it approaches we are won't
to regard it as a new life upon
which we are about to enter, and of
consequence, time for forecasting,
for new plans, and fresh resolves.
Shall we learn a lesson from the
past, viii we profit by the present
years experience? With many of
us the year now closing has been
one of financial trouble and embar
rassment. The merchant, partly
from a desire to increase his sales,
and extend his trade, but chiefly
we dare say from a better motive;
namely to accommodate the Gus
toner, has sold us supplies on time,
and has thus made us his debtors.
And now having been kindly scar
ried" through the crop season, as
to supplies needful for man and
beast, every consideration OF honor
and gratitude calls on US to come
forward promptly to the help of
the merchant, who in our time of
pressing need, gave us that assist
ance and that accommodation,
which were not only timely, but
simply indispensable. Without
this opportune assistance, hundreds
of crops in Giles county would have
been impossible, and food and raj
ment for many family would, in
all probability, have been at. best,
exceedingly precarious. By the
blessings of Providence and the in
strumentalities put into our hands
by our merchants, we have realized
an abundant harvest. Literally
may we say sour barns are filed
with plenty and our presses barst
out with new wine." And now as
payday draws near we find in turn,
the merchants in need. Now is the
time of their extremity, and it rests
with US to come to their relief, as
they did to ours. Their meat, and
corn, and clothing are gone, and we
were the consumers. They look
to us for relief. Payday has come
with them, and the wholesale dealer
wants has money, for this last in
turn is dependent on the importer,
and he on the manufacturer, and he
again on the farmer. So that if
any single class shall fail to meet
its engagements, the circuit is brok-
en-, the whole commercial routine
interrupted, and a thousand wheels
stand still. Then let Chsistmas be
an occasion of general, universal
debt-paying. Let the merchant feel
that he has not been disappointed
IN his trust, make the mechanic feel
that he has not toiled for naught.
See that the hard earned tuition bills
are settled, remember him who has
braved the summers heat and the
wiRter's storm to minister at your
sick couch-think of him who, in
the forum ofjustice has saved you
from the grasp of an overreaching
adversary, or the clutches of the
jailer-and last, if not least, don't
forget him, whose constant brain
task it has been, whether to more
or less purpose, to cater to your in
formation and your pleasure, in the
ever recurring tick of the types on
the one hand, and the incessant cry
for "copy" on the other Let all
these have the reward of their toll,
then shall the great prop and sub
stratum of the whole fabric of social
prosperity, the farming interest, re-
ceive in common with other callings
it's justly merited dues,