New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-19
For the Sunday Republican,
DO NOT YIELD TO DEsPONDENCY.
Useful Labor an AntIdote for the Suffer
InHs of the Mind.
BY ONEIDA.

city, is a wonderful form of strength and
beauty, and well deserves the admiration
she so universally excites; but after all, she
is only the lifeless mechanism of mans
power; that which she bears within her
stately cabins is of far greater interest TO
usage, they are teeming with human life,
human sorrows, regrets, and passions.
There all wear mask, and the proud eye,
and smiling lip conceal many blighted
natures, blasted hopes, bitter regrets, and
passionate longings. Her bell has sounded,
she turns her head into the wharf all is
hustle and confusion, but yon lonely woman
heeds it not, stirs not, as she leans far
over and peers into that great abyss
| of dark, muddy waters as if her soul
were going out into their unfathom.
able depths. She leans lower, and
gazes deeper as if tempted to find
an oblivion of life within the cold
engulfng waves. Her SOULS feeding with
diseased, morbid appetite upon wretched
disappointment and poignant regrets, and is
weary and sick of life. She is not more
than twenty-six, is brilliant and beautiful
Why so wretched? She looks not as though
the hardships of poverty had come over her.
No, none of these, reader, nor has she
lacked full share of societys adulation
She is simply disappointed, weary, heart
sick woman; yet if she dared she would,
thus young, end the life God has given her.
She has toyed with and deceived strong,
manly hearts who truly loved her; she has
loved, and in return been cast off almost in
scorn from the heart she worshiped She
feels that the various scenes through which
she has passed have all left their impress
upon her heart. She is no longer the crea
ture God made her, but the being of the
circumstances she thoughtlessly drew about
herself. She bemoans that the freshness
and trust of her heart are gone, and now
looks longingly and despairingly upon hap.
piness which has passed from her forever.
But is there no antidote for the aching
fiber heart? Need she despair of life's hap.
piness? No, certainly not, for there is an
antidote. Let her come out of herself and
learn to live for others, live for the good she
may do upon earth, and she will soon find
that while she is giving her life to duty God
is caring for her; and peace, comfort, and
happiness are gliding in 10 dwell with her
forever. The grateful smile of the relieved
poor, and the suffering ones of earth, will
radiate throughout her heart and dispel
forever the black shadow of despair so dis.
mally broodiDg there; while the happy
voices of the little orphaned ones she has
gathered to her heart will make sweet music
along its oyer-taxed chords, and relax and
soothe into gentle joy their tense fbres.
Oh! yes, disappointed woman, find in &C.
tive, useful labor the only antidote for your
sorrowing soul; this is the labor God ere.
ated US for, and in its performance He will
bless you.
And thou, man of strength and power, has
disaster followed fast, and followed faster
each effort Of your life; is your mind Devil.
dered and unsettled in purpose; beware
that you sink not down into the
lethargy of despair, or dash not
into the recklessness of disappointed hopes,
but grid up myself for the battle again;
honest labor will dispel the gloom of your
soul; and how know you but that the happy |
time in the tide of your life, which is to |
lead on to success, is yet to conner Make |
sure that you lose it not for lack Of effort.
Has death laid his icy touch upon her who |
mas rested upon your bosom in all her
womaDly weakness and loving gentleness
for SO many years; she who has shared |
your Joys and your sorrows, who has quiet |
ed and soothed the rugged conflicts of your
sterner nature, and loved you best OF all |
the world; and is the Light of life gone out |
from your heart, and has the darkened |
shadow of desolation shrouded your home;
and do the sweet tones Of her voice and the |
gentle echo of her foottread mock you at |
every turn! Arouse from the selfshness |
of your morbid grief awake to |
the calls of humanity around you,
and be up and doing; labor is healthy |
to both body and mind; the being who Ia
bors regularly and systematically for a |
worthy purpose win find it impossible to be |
wretched, however much Of trial and |
trouble may fall to his lot. Try it both |
woman and man; try it one and all, and
you win soon find that God delighteth not
in the misery Of man, and has wisely and |
lovingly provided against the wretchedness
Of His creatures.