ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



59 



here evening prayer, asked God to make her a good girl, and then 

 added, ''if you don't at first succeed, try, try again." 



You have accomphshed it on the same plan adopted by the 

 old darkey, who said, about ten days before Christmas he began 

 praying to the Lord to send him a turkey. He prayed fervently 

 every night for a week and still no turkey. He then prayed the 

 Lord to send him to a turkey, and he got one that night. You 

 have gotten what you have by going after it. 



This is not only an interesting and instructive meeting, but 

 to me has associated with it solemnity, not alone because of the 

 wonderful interests and sacred trusts represented, but in addition 

 the time at which you have convened. This is the beginning of 

 a new year. This is immediately following the old. Another 

 revolution of the great clock of the universe that marks time and 

 the figures on the dial have changed. Like an immense music 

 box that is arranged to start by dropping in a coin. We have 

 dropped the deeds and occurrences and transactions of another 

 year into the slot and started the machinery to play a new tune. 

 Father Time has reached the cord that rings up the fares, and 

 as we pay him (in his own coin) our transportation to another 

 division. He rings the bell, 1903 disappears, and on the face of 

 that recorder can be seen 190-1:. This gigantic omnibus (in which 

 there seems to be always room for one more), this wonderful 

 conveyance that is beyond the comprehension of finite minds, 

 this means of transportation, the magnitude of which we are 

 unable to conceive, this train of cars (the length of which is 

 beyond human vision to discern) encircling the universe drawn 

 by an engine on the throttle of which is the infinite hand of Al- 

 mighty God. For 6,000 years has continued to move carrying 

 its load of human freight from time to eternity. It has never 

 stopped. The machinery has never ceased to run. Millions 

 have been landed at their destination. Millions more have been 

 taken aboard and are making the same journey. We are only 

 reminded each year by a click of the cog, a ring of the bell and 

 the change of figures on the meter, that we have passed a sta- 

 tion. With each succeeding year, this conveyance seems to move 



