accordingly; in fact, I have treated the whole matter as if it were unreal, or as if it referred to somebody else rather than to me. “And now I have come probably to my last year in this school. Before another New Year’s day some other boy will have my desk in the school-room, my bed in the dormitory, my place at the table, my seat in the chapel. These long years, oh! how long they have seemed, have nearly all passed; I shall soon go away; if some place is not found for me I must find one for myself――oh! what will become of me? Since last New Year’s day two boys who were educated here have been sent convicted criminals to the Eastern Penitentiary. What are they thinking about on this New Year’s morning? They sat on these seats, they sang our hymns, they heard the same good words of advice which I have heard, they had all the good opportunities which all of us have; what led them astray? Did they believe that the good God stooped from heaven to say good words to them, holding out his strong hand to help them? I wonder if they thought they were strong enough to take care of themselves? I wonder if they thought they could get along without his help? Do I think I can?” Some such thoughts as these may be passing in the mind of the boy now looking at me and sitting not far from the desk, the boy whom I had in my mind as I began to speak. He is holding his pen full of ink. He has written nothing yet; he has been listening with some curiosity to hear what the speaker will say, what he can possibly know of a boy’s thoughts. I can tell that boy what _I_ would write if I were at his age, in this college, and surrounded by these circumstances, listening to these serious, earnest words. I would take my pen and write on the first page of this year’s book, this Sunday morning, this New Year’s day, these words: “_The leaf is turned over!_ God help me to lead a better life. God forgive all the past, all my wrong doings, all my neglect, all my forgetfulness. God keep me in right ways. God keep me from wicked thoughts which defile the soul; keep me from wicked words which defile the souls of others.” “But this is a prayer,” you say; “do you want me to begin my journal by writing a prayer?” Yes; but this is not all. Write again. 1. _I will not willingly break any of the rules which are adopted for the government of our school._ Some of the rules may _seem_ hard to obey, and even unreasonable, but they were made for my good by those who are wiser than I am. I _can_ obey them; I _will_. 2. _I will work harder over my lessons than ever before, and I will recite them more accurately._ This means hard work, but it is my duty; I shall be the better for it; it will not be long, for I am going soon; I _can_, I _will_. 3. _I will watch my thoughts and my talk more carefully than I have ever done before._