The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-09-01
LOOK UP.

LOOK UP.
| A ship, becalmed at sea, lay rocking lazi-
ly. A sprightly lad, the captains only SON.
not knowing what to do, began mischiev
ously to climb the mast He had got half
way to the top, when turning his eyes be-
low to sec how far he was from the deck,
he suddenly grew dizzy. II am falling, l
| am falling" he cried. Look aloft," shout
ed his father, who at that moment was leav
ing his cabin. The boy, accustomed in
stantJy to obey that voice, looked up to
where the main-truck swung against the
| sky, recovered heart, went on, was saved.
We do not give the anecdote as now
Doubtless every one of our readers have
heard it before. But the story has signi-
| fcance not always noticed. Others, besides
the captains son, have been saved by look
ing up. In the dizzy ascent of life many
man has been on the point of falling, when
some sudden thought has bidden him ''look
up;'' he has taken courage, has persevered,
has won the prize. Bruce, when he saw the
spider fall six times, yet succeeded at the
seventh, was of this class. So was Wash
ington, when CORVALLIS had driven him
across the Delaware, and when, instead of
giving up in despair, he suddenly collected
all his resources, fell on the British lines
and achieved the victory at Trenton.
There come times in the experience even
of the bravest when the heart is ready to
give up. Afliction after afflction, for exam
pie, has assailed him till hope itself despairs.
Perhaps favorite child has been suddenly
stricken down. Perhaps terrible epidemic
has destroyed more than onelittle one. Per-
haps the wife of his bosom is no more. Per-
haps, by one of those catastrophes which oc-
casionally occur, his entire family has been
swept into eternity in moment of time, in
thetwinkling of an eye. He feels as if there
was no longer any object for him in life
In the first shock of his agony he would not
care even if news was brought to him that
his fortunes were bankrupt, that he was q
disgraced bcggar. But, by and by, q still,
small voice within whispers ''look up" He
sees that the sky is still as bright as ever,
the breeze as blessed, the trees as beautiful.
He hears the waters run, leaping and laugh
ing down the hill side, glistening in silver as
they go. The earth is not less lovely than
before, the stars are as numberless, the
ocean and mountains as sublime. His fell
low-creatures have the same kindly hearts
towards him. He owes them the same old
duties. Gradually he realizes that he has
much yet to live for. In time even he
regains subdued and quiet happiness
He has learned to ''lock up"
A great financial crisis overtakes the
strong man in the midst of his schemes
He gathers up all his resources, contending
gallantly, desperately, long after hope is
over; struggling for his family rather than
himself; fighting, agonizing, like LAGOON
in the serpent'sfolds. 1t will not do. The
mighty whirlwind, whose outer eddies he
has been striving to resist, wheels down up
on him in all its power; he is torn up in an
instant he is hurled Oh the ground, he is
left breathless, bruised and seemingly dead.
At first, when he regains sensation after the
overwhelming shock, he is without hope
He has neither strength nor wish to resume
his work. He is willing that the tempest
shall sweep the wrecks of his fortune out
of sight forever. 1t is useless, he says to
himself, even to try to regain what he has
lost. At last gentle wife or sympathizing
friend bids him not to despair. Look up"
they say. He looks. At once he is a new
man. He recovers his name and fortune.
In every circumstance of life, ''look up"
Are you about to enter a profession Aim
at no secondary success fix your mark
high; 'look up" Are you a merchant
Become leader in your business, and to do
this, first ''look up" Are you ambitious of
political destinyl Scorn to be mere
demagogue; resolve to be a statesman
''look up" Is authorship your wish En-
deavor to take rank among the classics of
your language by studying manner as well
as mater !; aspire to triumph greatly and
permanently. rather than prenaturely ; III
a word sslook up" All 4! if all would only
look up. But some never bear the cheer
ing words. Some disregard them. Of tho
thousands who have failed utterly in life,
or met only secondary success, the ma
iority owe their misfortunes to not looking
up In sorrow or disaster, remember tho
boy upon the dizzy mast, and ''look up,
look up."-BaLttm0re Sun.