Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-09-16
LESSONS OF LIFE.

LESSONS OF LIFE.
It Is common to limit the period Of
learning lessons to that Of youth. The
boy must study to gain knowledge and
discipline Of mind; must be controlled
and governed in order to acquire self
control and self. government, and must
endure much that seems to him hard and
unnecessary, in order to prepare him
for a dignifed and useful manhood.
As this period passes away, lessons are
laid aside, and we enter mature life
with the idea that our education Is fin
ished; that we now'commence a career
of reality, for which all previous life
has beena preparation; and that life's
enjoyments and sufferings, Its relations
and events, its duties and conditions,
are not steps by which to reach higher
attitudes, but the vast eminence itself,
which we have been toiling to attain.
Such a view, however, fails to solve
the problem of life, or to sound its
depths. II its joys and sorrows, Its
Gibbs and flows, its harmony and dis
cord, are in themselves ends, and not
means to something nobler, then life
Is a chaos which no intellect can ex-
plain. If, however. 1t is rather a school.
In which every condition and event Is
q lesson, the thorough learning Of
which increases our powers and leads
to higher requirements, then it Is full
of significance and wisdom. Riches
and poverty, pleasures and woes, So
ciety and solitude, are not only ap-
pointments, but direct means OF edu-
cation, II we will but accept them as
such. Prosperity is a benefactor, not
chiefly in the enjoyments IL confers,
but In the lessons 1t teaches to all who
will learn them. The right use Of
money Is one Of these-the ability to
steer clear Of extravaganza on the one
hand, and meanness on the other.
Generosity, gratitude, modesty, tenn
perance, the love Of relieving distress,
Of educating the ignorant, Of stimuli
lating enterprise and encouraging i'll
dustry, are some Of the lessons which
may be learned through prosperity,
and which, If learned, will prove
greater blessings than all the material
enjoyment that unlimited afluence
could bestow. Wealth Is a rightful
cause OF rejoicing when its true mean-
ing is appreciated, but he who only
uses 1t to foster self-indulgence, pride
and avarice, illustrates its grand pur-
poses, and forfeits its chief blessing'.
Adversely Is also a teacher-stern and
severe it may be, but none the less
| faithful and true In its instructions.
It in~culcates industry, integrity, forth
tude, contentment. 1t teaches the
worth Of se~lf-denial, the value Of love,
| that priceless boon that wealth can
never purchase. 1t strengthens cour-
age and independence, and develops
manly effort and patient toll. It is
true that these lessons are not always
learned. Many fret and chafe against
Its hard requirements. Some give way
to envy, some forfeit their honor, some
sink into dependence. But 1t Is be-
cause they are unfalthful scholars,
neglecting the lessons Of life, and thus
entailing on their OWN moral natures
evils which no adversely, however Bit
ter, could eyer infiict. All social ties
bring special lessons for our lnstruc-
tion. How loudly the ties Of family
and kindred call for love to cement
and bind them. For the want of this,
no wealth. no intelligence, no beauty,
no accomplishments can atone. The
different ages, pursuits and tastes that
exist in every family, call for mutual
self denial, kindness and courtesy, to
prevent Earrings and promote happl-
ness. The lessons of parental, flial
and fraternal duty thus enjoiued are
too plain to need comment. All social
lite must have love for Its keynote If
it Is to promote harmony. But this,
though It's greatest, is not its only les
son. It teaches modesty; 1t rebukes
c~onceit; It strengthens faith In good
ness and trust in honor; 1t inculcates
candor, truth and justice; 1t c~ultivates
gentleness and forbearance; 1t shows
the Interest of n to be Identical with
that Of the many; It sets the limits Of
self-love. To the thoughtful, every
event, relation and condition Of life
receives Its chief significance, not from
its immediate results, but from the
lessons with which it Is fraught. Life
Il thus a school, valuable not as an
end, but as a means. 10 elevate the
character, to strengthen the virtue, to
cultivate all the fruits Of goodness
these are the ends which life IL to sub
serve. Hard tasks are before us, which
will tax IL utmost energies our faith
and endurance may be sorely tried.
We may sometimes fail to discover the
intent Of the lessons given US to learn,
but IL we ~persevere In the hard study
they demand, il we take them home
to our hearts and weave them into oil
our actions; II, like faithful scholars,
we hold life's lessons first In our re-
gard, and her pleasures and troubles
secondary, then shall we appreciate
| the priceless value Of life, aud reap