E old Peter has always ne day; for ed myself to JDE, and on the nd gratitude are made me joyful; delight among the Roger de Coverley ng out of the old sobered by reflecss to the Giver of B "THE KING OF LIGHT-FATHER OF AGED TIME HATH BROUGHT ABOUT THAT DAY WHICH IS THE PRIME O said an old English poet, and so says old Peter Parley in the year 1852. New Year's Day has always been to me, my young friends, a gladsome day; for whenever it has come, I have accustomed myself to look back on the past year with GRATITUDE, and on the coming one with HOPE; and as hope and gratitude are both cheerful and pleasant companions, they have made me joyful; and I have sometimes, old as I am, capered with delight among the youngsters in the merry dance, as my old friend Sir Roger de Coverley did before me; and I have listened to the ringing out of the old year, and the ringing in of the new one, with joy, sobered by reflection, and with meditation, brightened by thankfulness to the Giver of all good. B |