DIALOGUE ON THE NEW YEAR.
Thomas Thoughtful. Mary, there are many thoughts that
occur to me in the beginning of a new year, that, I am
sorry to say, don't strike me so much at any other time.
Mary. Well, what sort of thoughts are they? Per-
haps I may be able to say the same and then we shall
be of the same mind in that as we are in all other things.
Thomas. Why, I never can help thinking over and
over again of things that I have been neglecting, or
else only half doing, all through the year that's gone by.
I believe every Christian makes a point of exercising
self-examination at this time more seriously than ever
besides; but I don't seem to be able to help it, whether
I would or not.
Mary. I dare say, Thomas, it's just for the same
reason as when your poor mother died last year, you
remember how we both sat in her room, where the corpse
was laid, and couldn't help thinking again and again of
every little thing that we had ever done to disturb her,
and every thing we hadn't done to comfort her, while she
was alive. How we sat and cried, to think that we
VOL. XXIV.
