Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-11-13
MDRAtL AND RELlGlUOs.
DIFFICULTIES.

UGcultyis is associated with happiness.
The curse which. doomed man to toll is
among the greatest Of human blessings.
In itself it is curse relatively to fallen
man j, is a.perpetual, universal, unmixed
mercy. Though the seraph, soaring on
his wings Of fire, and trumphing in i'm.
mortal powers, regards it as a curse !;
though man in Paradise felt it to be such,
yet to man depraved, it is kind angel
which saves him from himself, his great.
esl foe. Were it repealed, earth would
be thousand fold cursed. Matter and
mind would rot-the field would be a
Wilderness man would be armed agains,
himself, and against his fellow-passion
would obliterate reason-iniquity would
spring out Of the earth--unmtigaled
wrath would look down from Heaven
hell itself would be anticipated. Wisely
has God locked up every blessing, and
throw curtain over every truth, that in
turning the key and lifting the vail,
mans moral and physical powers might
be diverted from their desolating, down.
ward tendency.
Difficulties, when overcome, insure
Honor
What laurels can be gathered from the
field Of sham battle? No enemy, no
glory. The brave man scorns the feeble
adversary. The greater the foe, the more
noble the victory. Rome gave her best
honors to Scipio, because he prostfa!ed
Hannibal. America honors Washing.
ton because he drove the giant forces Of
Britain. England awards to yelling.
ton her highest praise because he struck
down Napoleon, her mightiest foe.
We measure a mans intellect by his
achievement. We estimate his achieve.
mcnts by their difficulties. Think you
that honor can come without difficulty?
Try it. Go, build baby.houscs, join
mice to little wagon, play at even and
odd, and ride on long pole, and see
what laurels the world will award you
Difficulties give Courage.
| Look at the raw recruit. How timid,
how fearful Of the foe, how willing to
avoid an engagement! See him on the
eve Of slrife-his imagination pictures
the smoke and din Of battle from afar--
the plain crimsoned with blood-the
piercing cries and gaping wounds Of the
dying and the dead. He longs for the
home OF his childhood, the embrace. O.
his mother, tho quiet Of peace. Bu
mark the hardy veteran by his side, who
carries in his body the bullets Of the foe
and bears upon his face the marks o
their sabres. He stands firm, he thinks
only Of the image Of his country, thu
!, punishment Of the invader, and the lau
rels o! the conqueror, and lies down t
rest, longing for the reveille that shal
!. wake him to the strife. Behold yon tim
id, delicate female. She trembles q
: the spider, she shudders at the unexpec
ted rap--she faints at the firing Of pis
toll. War breaks out her HUSBAND
I. draws his sword, and leads his platoon
10 the cannon's mouth. The savage
surround her dwelling--the sound Of tn
war.whoop breaks the slumbsrs Of mid
night, and the blood Of her frst.borl
r flows bver her threshhold. That lemal
lis the timid virgin no longer. Guardin
5 the cradle Of her infant babes, she learn
10 fire the rife. and plunge into warrio
hearts the sharpened dagger. The hear
. Of Hannibal throbs in her BOSOM
. Dr.. EdsOavd 1Homson.