Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-30
Moods.


casional interruptions. Life is not level
prairie, but, even in its commonplace forms
rises occasionally into a mountain, or sinks
into valley. There are days when the
cheerful mind feels unusually bright and
joyous, and other days when an inexplica-
BILE soberness creeps over it. "The blues"
visit some unfortunate people daily, and
are seldom entire strangers to any one; an
east wind and rainy day often bring
them. All are conscious of seasons when
they can do their best, and do it easily;
when the mind hasinspirations, and works
spontaneously; when the body is toned
up to high key, and is active without IA
tigue. There are also morbid, nervous
temperaments, readily excited, and BY the
inevitable law of reaction, as surely de-
pressed, which have only a series of vary
ing moods, and whether the bliss, or the
woe predominates, it were hard to decide.
But while there may be no complete ex-
emption from moods, and while it is doubt
full whether'life would be the gamer, were
they wholly banished, there can be little
question that usually moods are a source
Of weakness. He who waits upon them,
or yields to them, becomes their servant
instead of their master, strips himself of
strength, and parts with his independence.
While it may be true, that in exalted mood,
one will sometimes accomplish wonders,
and that, at such time, genius seemingly
is under inspiration, it is false inference
that therefore one should idly wait for the
atflatus. But few are geniuses, and, in the
long run, steady, working talent accom-
plishes far more than ftful genius. No
mountain is assembled by sudden runs and
leaps. No farm produces well under oc-
casional starts Of labor. The man of moods,
who can, or at least will, do nothing unless
he "feels like it," may fancy that he is a
man of power because once in a while when
the impulse takes him, he does a pretty
good thing. But he is, nevertheless, a
weakling. He has notthe mastery of him
self. He cannot work his faculties at will .
In feeling, he is like an opium eater; now
in the seventh heaven of delight, and then
in the depths of hell. His power of ac-
complishment is like that opium eaters
will, the mere plaything of passing emo
tions. However superior his native gifts
and however wide his range of intelli-
gence, he largely shares the Incompetence
of the uneducated: for he lacks thorough
mental discipline. His thoughts are a
mob and not an army. He cannot assign
himself to 4 needful task at aay moment,
and do it promptly and well. There is no
steady river current TO turn the busy wheel
| but an ebb and flow of the tide only, on
which weeds and chips drift idly backward
and forward. Wind power, which now
blew a storm and then subsidized into per-
! feet calm, has been wisely surrendered in
our day for steam power, which gives a
nearly uniform result. Happy is the man
in whom mind is a fixed force always avail
able. One great benefit of learning a
trade, or of acquiring profession, is. that
thereby one is enabled to rise above moods
The boy who some days "feels like" work
and some days is utterly disinclined there
to, when he has finished his apprentice
ship, has acquired the invaluable habit OF
industry, Of laboring hour after hour, and
day after day, enjoying the exertion and
accepting it as a matter of course. He be-
comes a thrifty member of community, tC
be relied upon in his work as surely as q
steam engine. And so the young man who
pursues the studies involved in securing 9
liberal education, gains, in addition tC
stores of knowledge, what is far more val
liable, the mental discipline which gives
him self mastery; which enables him t
put his whole force at will, upon any study
and for any reasonable length Of time, til
he has wrought out the desired result h
can regularly and eagily bestow fixed at
tention and concentrated energy. Patien
thought, careful reasoning, continuous writ
ing ceases to be the drudgery, which at frs
they were, and come even to possess a quie
charm. In other words, he has risen abov
the weakness of moods. He has his pow
ers OF mind at command, to say to this one
$50, and he goeth, and to that, Come, AM
he cometh." The merchant is in a ba,
case whose means are in goods trusted on
all over the country on long credits, ant
who, in an emergency, has little Or moth
ing in bank upon which to draw A heav
deposit, subject to a sight draft, is grea
, convenience, and affords the only position
of strength. And he only is intellectual
strong who is disciplined to uniform work
and can draw upon his faculties at an
time according to the necessity of the cast
There is no department of life in whic
we are not subject to the temptation of re
r lying on moods. In ordinary business tn
) stern pressure Of need Fortunately compel
uniform work. The laborer, the mechar
ic, the merchant, the lawyer, the physical
E morning where it was laid down the nigh
, previous, whether they are in the workin
, mood or not. And SO they happily lear
D to think nothing about moods, to leav
e them out of their calculations as an ell
D ment of no practical account. But artist
| ministers and authors, especially if the
4 are of a nervous temperament, or are NJ
/ in perfect health, sometimes listen to
/ readily to the siren voice which bids ther
S wait for the right mood before they pit
: pencil to canvass, or pen to paper. The
: imagine this to be more poetic, sentiment;
t and genius-like, it may be. Thus waiting
they not only lose time and perhaps ia
: in required performance, or, at the las
S rush at it, to work out a crude and hast
e result, but they weaken their minds, sui
= ject them to irregular action, and becom
e daily less competent to do their BEST
a Moods, yielded to, become tyrants instea
;. of servants; they undermine the will, the
# incapacitate for efficient exertion.
e The same is true in spiritual experienc
n Religion is principle and not feeling. d.
n ty should be done because it is duty, al
r not because 1--WE feel like it." Those wi
). pray or go to church or read the bible, o
It ly when it seems easier to do it than n
e to do it, are not acting upon principle, a,
e will find ere long that dsinclination W
IS become chronic. On the other hand, Il
n regular performance of duty creates inc
Il nation, and makes the mood of right doll
e permanent. Principle produces holy ha
a it and produces OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
y Did Jesus Answerl" Yes ?"
: Mamma is talking to Jesus said lit
" Mary to herself as she heard her mother