Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-11-03
For Tie Joarnsl.
SHADOW AND SUNSHINE.

]
+. There IS undoubtedly in most lives.~
both shadow aud sunshiae-davs Of
quiet, peace and happiness. aad days of
I gioom, doubt and Sfiiction. But alas.
many spend the tinle 5ewai!ing the ono
which should be giSsn to ths enjoyment
OF the other; and thus roo life Of liz
sunny hours, and !engthen the shadows
over the entire pathway. How fsw.
comparatively, do We meet With, in this
beautiful, Though sin marred world.
that appear really happy, cheerful and
Eilliag to walk where duty
leads--t till the gcsision designed -
Heaven. and besennlesfSr lainiagIy
their mutual share of- tie woes. and
burdens Of life But we could poi,t
to more thar score of persons-in
truth. with, but few happy exceptions,
we might name the whole list OF our ac-
quainlance and set them down ss
gloomy. morbid. dissatisfied class,
whose time is spent in courting. and
elinsing with ienacity, to the shadows,
that darken life; while they close their
eyes, and resolutely refuse the sun
shine sent 10 brighten the dreary waste.
Let them meet with loss-trial, or
disappointment. and they will dwell on
1t weeks, months. and someiimes even
years itsslf,--grow long faced, sDd
gloomy. until one might almost imsg-
inc them the lone inhabitant Of some
deserted isle, stalking among the tombs
of their buried race. But let pros
perity crown their efforts let success.
surround them and li5s,,s ,.~biez;saaI
multiply in their pathway and
find them equally joyous and gras
Alas, no. They still murmur,
plain and find fault-unwilling TO
cept the facilities of happiness "
their reach; they yet long fer So
grasped shadow, aud succeed ID
miserable. This certainly is ala
unwise, ungrateful, and even W.
Though earth was never desigpa
Heaven. yet it is full of real cd
and blessings which all ms
and for which we should all b
ful. Our pathway, no mat
thorny. and uneven, is daily SURF
by unnumbered mereies, and we
to be ashamed to marmnr al
fault with the DEGREES of HeaE
ever dark, mysterious, or insS
they may appear to us.
He leads US on,
By paths we did not know,
Upward He leads US, though our - L
Thought oft we faint and falt( n,
Though clouds and darknest o. ., oS
way; W
Yet.when the clouds are gone
We know He leads US on.
True there are ills in life we can
escape, and the trials and temp tatio!
incident to this life, may at times, over
take US, yet so long as God reigus
Heaven and rules on earth, we need NJ
despair. His promises are sure, HI
grace sufficient, and though the va
may be stormy, the end may be peao
| have sometimes thought that vel
many of the evils of which we col
plain are in reality the fruits of
1wn labors. We are SO utterly self
$50 bent on promoting our own tenn
raj interests, regardless of the isjasi
we may be doiag to others, tb
make nobody happy, and eonse
are wretched ourselves But
brave hearts and wiling Ka.
would move feaflessly forward
to promote the best interests Of otl
Tighten the weight that is or ushs
the northumberland helping hsF
to the erring and needy, and obs
N the truest sense, the Golden r
doing unto others as we wou
hey. should do unto u.s." the sh
would one BY one disappear from
pathway, and we would enjoy
sunshine.
LoTTIE LAW