West-Jersey pioneer., 1869-10-22
LIFE Is WHAT WE MAKE IT.

One of the most prolific sources of open
complaint and secret discomfort is the ap-
parent inequality of the human lot in life.
In proof of this, we are pointed to the out
ward diferan, es so palpable to all. Wealth
and poverty, health and sickness, education
and ignorance, ability and febleness, success
and failure, certainly present very opposite
appearances; but that they are either fixed
and inevitable lot of those who now possess
them, OF that they are themselves the true
elements of ifes happiness or misery, are
erroneous, though very prevalent ideas
The truth that ought to be impressed on
evely mind, and especially upon the young,
both to prevent repining, and to animate
the energies to their fullest capacity, is that
life is scAat ace Dsake It, Two men stand side
by side, gazing on the same scene in nature.
To one, who has bright and cheerful dis
position, it reveals only beauty and gladness
while to the other, gloomy and sad, the
whole scene is spread over with leaden pail.
1t is our own state of mind that creates for
us, even Nature herself, and paints the same
scene in beauty OF in gloom.
Still more is our social world what we
make it o,,rsel~os. The eolnsn and cold
hearted will ever find coldness and selfish
ness in others: the proud will be treated
haughtily, the angry and passionate will
receive rudeness and violence, and those who
dishonor themselves will be dishonored by
Others But society," to the good, the gen.
tie, and the benevolent, is different. Their
example wins others to similar virtues and
develops the germs of good, which, though
they may he hiddo,,, yo+ o.rist in every heart.
From mans estimate of society as a whole
we may gain very fair knowledge of his
own character, for as he is, so will others
appear to him. To the pure, all things are
pure, because their puriety, like the magnet
attracts the same quality in others; while
the heart that is itself estranged from virtue
can find none elsewhere.
Equally true is it, that our world of cir
cumstances and events is what we ourselves
make it. The Injuries of wealth, the tri-
umphs ofsuccess, the scintillations of genius
and even the blessings of health, may be
converted into bitter evils if the well springs
are corrupt; while the severest trials and
temptations can, to pure and noble heart
be changed into blessings. The power of
trial to harm us does not reside in itself,
but in our own feebleness to resist or to en-
dure it. Every temptation resisted puri-
ties and elevates the heart, and every suf-
ering rightly borne strengthens cur nature.
Business life seems to dry up some natures,
and lead them away from higher things;
while in others, it creates virtuous indepen-
dence, manliness, and integrity. Pleasure
to one proves poisonous draught, while to
another it is healthful refreshment. Thus
life as aesat are make ii. 1t is not made up,
in its intrinsic nature, of the material world
nor of the society in which we move, nor of
the external circumstances which surround
us. 1t is our own internal character that
moulds and fashions all these outward things
and extracts from them the bitter or the
sweet that best assimilates with itself
These outward circumstances contain the
essence of both happiness aud misery-both
good and evil. Happy is the person who
can extract the sweet and leave the bitter
who can develop the good and extinguish
the evil. As the chemist works mp the ele-
fresh knowledge from all the difficulties they
exhibit, so in the moral everything external
may be resolved into good by the patient
efforts of man, and all that seems most adj
verse may be so overcome or endured as to
prove greater blessing than the most ap-
parently favorable events.
This view of life will lead us to put a JUS
ter estimate upon the complaints which are
so rife among all. If life is what we make
it, we must look within and not without,
for the sources of discomfort. We complain
of society, of circumstances, of everything
external, but in most literal sense they are
all what we make them. In proportion as
we are industrious and virtuous shall we be
honored and rewarded; in proportion as we
are lovely, we shall be beloved; and even in
most trying situations, and the sorest trials
the main point as to their severity is the
spirit in which they are received. Patient,
faithful endeavor never results III continued
unhappiness, and is never ultimately rnisuc
cessful. Misery chiefly arises from INSULT
cient effort and consequent ill-success If
then we should find life good, we must fill
our hearts with goodness; if you would have
the world shine brightly upon us, we must
kindle a light in our own souls and cause it
to shed a radience on all around.