Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-07-24
What is Life 2
For the "Raftsman,s Journalu

Life is real, life is earnest - life is a
stern and solemn reality. We are travellers
upon Its highway; we are cast forth by 9TH
er means than our own. Everything is
hurrying us onward. We can neither stop
nor turn back. Forward we are pressed.
Resistance is in vain. Therefore, the ne
cessIty OF making our voyage as pleasant,
delightful, and happy as we can. Life is
full of beauty, and ought to be of constant
gladness.
Every man is the architect of his own
fame and fortune. If he arrive to honor
and distinction the merit is his If he be
dishonored and disgraced to him alone the
shame and misery belong.
Man success is the result of his actions
He is free agent, acting from a certain i'm
pulse OF the mind, which is varied accord
ing to certain surrounding circumstances
Luck and fortune are mere words without a
meaning. What is called good luck, is the
result of sound and correct judgment. Bad
luck Is the reverse of this There are some
who never prosper in their undertakings.
They are too impulsive, too changeable, and
they ascribe their disappointments to Prov
idence. We are all too ready and willing to
blame Others for our misfortune, instead of
considering 1T the result of our own actions.
Man is placed in the world for purpose !;
he has certain duty to perform.
Now, let me ask you my youthful readers,
Tor what purpose do you live? What Is
your aim in life Consider that this world,
wllh all its greatness, its riches, its honorS,
will soon be placed in the hands of the youth
of to-day; and are you preparing yourself
to fulfil any of the duties. which may be
posed upon you as one of the actors, in
the great drama of life? Or, are you living
as hundreds of others are, who merely sus-
tain life through a natural instinctiveness to
live? They have no aim; they live for no
purpose. And what are they? To them
selves, little; to the world, nothing. They
may be honest and well-meaning persons,
but they lack one thing, energy There is
many bright talent lying dormant for want
of cultivation. They forget that practice
makes perfect. Our most talented and EN-
inent men can attribute their greatness to
something which they said or did, at some
particular tune, which gave them encour-
agement to try again. The mind is change
able. A word, look, or an action, may
produce a combination of circumstances,
which may effect the future course of a
mans life 1t may hurry him on to honor
and distinction, or it may hasten his ruin
and destruction. Therefore, those who can
exert an influence over Others can not be
great results arise from minor causes. 1T is
the change in the mind, which produces
the change in the person, and mans S happi-
ness Is, more or less, effected by this change,
r OF only in this world, but in the world to
come. The mind is immortal. The powers
of thought, with which man is endowed,
not only live tor an hour, day, or a year,
but for eternity. The thoughts which arise
within us leave imperishable momentoes
behind. Every cultivated improvement we
may make is not only additional to our hap
piness here, but in eternity. The cultiva-
tlon of our intellect exercises our abilities
to do good, and We are all made happier in
trying to promote the happiness of others.
Uncultivated intellect has but few pleasures,
and these are low and vulgar.
Man is a singular being. We read that,
God is love. " We also read that man is
formed in his image If he were not love
he would not have formed within us the
property of loving. The heart was made to
love. Well has the poet said
The heart like the tendriI accustomed to cling
Let it grow where it will, cannot flourish alone;
But will lean to the nearest and loveliest thing
1t can twine with itself and make closely its own.
If, then, it must and will exercise its nat
ural powers, it is evident that our affections
should be so directed that they may yield
US the greatest possible amount of joy; for I
the result of the natural exercise of the af-
fection is happiness-pure and thrilling
This is always the case, when not fixed upon
objects. The mother who wasted
her affections upon her undutiful and un
worthy child, feels pain more severe when
her love is not appreciated, than any other
which is possible for her to feel. The same |
is true of any other affection.
Attachments must be formed, friendship
must be cultivated, companions must be Sc
lected from the circle of our acquaintance !;
there is no avoiding this. Then the duty
of every one is to be wise, and seek the
companionship of those, and those only, |
who are pure and good. The basis of true
and lasting affection is, real acorth. He
who builds upon, or confdes in aught else,
will most assuredly feel wreck of heart
and blighted hopes. W. A. S.