THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 6 



speeches, literary exercises or iiutsic, or there would he 

 but a slim attendance even at those meetings. 



When the time comes round to i)rei)are for out' annual 

 meeting, I always feel as Ailemas AVard said he felt when 

 he was surrounded by the Indians. He wished he had 

 happened to be somewhere else, just at that time ; or, like 

 General Butler, when he was out of favor with the Com- 

 mander-in-chief, ordered to report at Lowell. 



Of course, when I come to the meeting, I like to see 

 a good attendance of handsome, well dressed [)eople, of 

 both sexes — like those here to-night — but I have no words 

 of censure for those members who do not care to come, 

 for I might myself, under certain circumstances, stay 

 away. 



One very rainy Sunday afternoon, many years ago, the 

 worthy old sexton of the North church was pacing the 

 broad aisle, when the minister. Dr. Brazer, arrived. They 

 were the onl}' persons in the house. The Doctor said — 

 "It doesn't look, Mr. Sexton, as if there would be many 

 here this afternoon." "No, sir," answered the sexton, with 

 his usual rapid and pointed speech, "and you and I. sir. 

 wouldn't be here if we weren't })aid for it.'" 



But in sjnte of what I have had to say on this subject, 

 it is, I suppose, incumbent on the Secretary to sacrifice 

 his own feelings and present for your consideration some 

 statistics, thought to be applical)le to the occasion. 



The year just closed has been one of ccmiparative i)ros- 

 perity to the society. We have not, it is true, any of 

 those large legacies to mention, wliich we are always anx- 

 iously looking for. But wc nuist continue to work with 

 patience, and have faith that there is a good time coming, 

 some day or other, when we shall have the means to en- 

 large our buikling, in order to properly display all our 

 constantly increasing donations. 



