Show the old settler I 1 0 my dear san jua ners it was the last evening of the old year which meant nothing to me as I 1 had long since discarded old sentimentalities senti mentalities about dates i but old th thamas omas had sent word begging me to visit him once more before he died and this particular evening was as opportune for that visit as any other was likely to be the date meant very much to old thomas im mighty glad you came tonight he be declared turning painfully in bed and extending his thin old arm ive been praying that your visit would be now for now I 1 have the spirit of telling you something which I 1 know you will tell and it will go to thinking men and women whom I 1 am not able to reach 1 I regard this and accept it as the last one of my happy new years celebrations and his withered lips betrayed his emotion and this is more happy than any one ne of the celebrations of the past up to the time I 1 was 45 1 I celebrated new years with a kind of festive tradition that for some reason I 1 knew not what it was an occasion of joy a harbinger of health and prosperity that was 25 years ago and as you know my fortunes took a sudden change for the worse at that time before new years came I 1 had burned out without a cent of insurance urance Ps at first I 1 was ns i zing oneve edif eda y if at all but then a big thought cams came to tale me in this year I 1 have passed through a magnificent experience which will follow me with its benedictions edict ions through all eternity this has been the most soul stir ring year of my life this far in this year I 1 have been jarred awake as from a deep sleep and here is the opening cf another year which may bring greater things still taxing me accordingly to pay for what I 1 am to receive adit it was in that next year that my little girl was run over and killed by an automobile after pausing to control his rising feelings he went on next year came my misfortune with the sheep and the sheriffs sale which left me without a home but I 1 celebrated the coming of the next new year as I 1 had never done before I 1 was conscious that the years were bringing me values which would carry on into the wondrous worlds ahead next year my wife died f from rom the burdens and exposures incident to the changed ways of life lif e that we had to follow he paused here again and after a most resolute struggle in his soul continued the year that followed got me down helpless with rheumatism my precious years were not net to be at all in vain the great giver of all things was making them rich continued Continue ct on page 8 the old settler 0 from page 1 with experience now I 1 den need to tell yen how it IM has bee one sou soul stirring ordeal after afaf r another ever since until t thi last summer when I 1 lost losi my leg 0 these important years bears in which I 1 have ben absen going going through therill th the emill milt being ground fina in preparation for tho the great ol object eject of my being placed for a while en cn earth I 1 see men living in prosperity dying in prosperity e i ity temp temporal oral prosperity which always comes to a tragic end what have they got out of it all now that it has ema to an end now with the dawning of this i year I 1 look forth to an experience more gripping m re profitable than any through which I 1 have gone hitherto I 1 shall celebrate I 1 the coming of this year not with blind and meaningless festivities but in contemplation of triumphant victory over it all and my receipt of the enduring joys which are bought by the precious years which are given to us fox for this great purpose ALBERT R LYMAN |