Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-04-03
NO. 1
HUMAN LIFE.
ny HENRY WARD BEEcuER.

ny HENRY WARD BEEcuER.
Take two boys at the age Of twenty. y.fiye.
Where did that one come fromY He came
from the l0fns Of father that was upright
and God.fearing. He had a mother that
was mother indeed. He had loving broth
ers and sisters. His entrance into life was
almost one Of choral joy. At every step his
wants were anticipated. His evils werc
foreseen and averted. lie knew nothing
about need. He had abundant wealth to de-
pend upon. He attained the age Of twenty.
nve without sickness, to know what L was
without tasks and burdens, to know what
they were; without uncertainties, to know
what they we're. lie has had what we call
good things for twenty Eve years. And what
is he at twenty-fvef Well, he is 4 sweet.
goodish young man-and good for nothing.
There is Eo marrow in his bones. There is no
steel in his muscles. He has had no expert
cnce. He never fenced with the devil and
whipped him. He never fought until the
sun went down, and at last wrestcd victory
under desperate odd. has had no train
mg. And 1t has killed him, and made him
a worthless young man. And who \ ths
other young man that has come down to
twenty.flvsf His father died NJ the pooy
house, and he ran away from II when he vs.
eight years old. good start in life Hi.
clothes were rags. He had as many win
dows in them as there were in the factory
where the cloth was made. He went to ono
who employed him Cor the purpose Of br,,.
ising and kicking and cufinc him. He
ran away from this man to fall into other aa
oao, or worse, hands. 1t is difficult to trace
ms course as he swept down the cddyinp
stream, now whirled into this channel, and
now INTO that, sometimes on one side and
sometimes on the other. lie grew up feeling
that man was his enemy, and that il he had
anything 9 God must give IT 10 him, not that
ne must earn it. At fifteen or sixteen years
OF age he began to get hold on life. He
worked hard for very little. That he hus.
banded. He studied while other men slept
And wrought out for himself, against fste
ana host Of evils--what9 Manhood the
best @ gift that God over gave in this world. -
WIN heart to dare, with spirit to endure,
with ferttude to suffer, and with fsArlcssncss
Without presumption, Mt twenty .five he look.
cd at life and said, !" can conquer it,"
Here are tho two men. One has come an
the path Of good things. He is a nice Young
man lie Is the mothers darling and the
iather,s pride His hands arc lily white and
beautiful DC And he is good for nothing -
Inc other is all SCARED by the rough usage
ne mas undergone, and the severe experiences
40 has passed through. He il twsnty. Ave
snd there is not line of beauty on him ~
iods plow has drawn its burrows across his
brow. Hc is as hard as an anvil and he has
'een pounded - much. He has had evil
1pon evil, and trouble upon trouble. and
what is he nowr A NAV and he will bo
! me worlds rudder, if God 20 please; for it
: Ine men who are wrought out under such
circumstances !, that steer the things that arc.
49, ask yon whether il 10 not true, in the
wnoie career Of man, that what are called
'vil tnings arc great deal better than whnt
ire called good things. As between rood
IS moral quality, implying virtue, truth.
nopleness, charity; and evil a. q moral DUAL.
ty, implying meanness. lusts, appetites---of
course, as between these there can he no
1oubt that evil is always bad and good ia al.
ways good. But when we speak Of all things
working out good we mean good in the sense
u prosperity. And | declare that in the
Whole course of mans life and education.
ne Is served better by things that are not
sood tnan ny things that are. 1t takes both
% make fully developed man it takes
properties and advcrsities; it takes bless.
ngs and mischiefs; it takes soft pats and
lard blows; it takes things bright and things
lark It takes day and night; it takes sum.
ner and winter. All Of these work topeth.
r; and when the man, is wrought out "A
he product Of them all, all things NAV be
aid to have worked together fo- his good in
he long run.