The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-07-11
Accepting the Situation.

Every day, in this world of mutation,
men and women are called upon to ex-
change broadcloth for homespun, silk
for calico, the palace for the cottage.
BY fraud, by accident, by flame, by fiuc-
tuation in trade, the rich Inheritance,
the honestly competence, is
swept away, and the man who thought
himself independent for life must begin
again at the foot of the hill the woman
Tapped in luxury must become her own
maid, and the servant of her own family
as well. So quietly do those suffering
reverses slip away into the hooks of So
ciety, that little is known of their daily
lives, their struggles with adverse for
tune, their efforts to retrieve loss and re-
gain position. TIE contest may be long
and fierce, and end in defeat, deeds Of
prowess may be done, and acts of valor
performed, blows given and received
that in the crowded amphitheatre would
call forth tumultuous applause; but
there is no concourse to cheer, there are
no hands to clap, no voices to shout for
the victor. Yet not unnoted do these
neiseless heroes and heroines move along
their quiet path. Many heart is
strengthened at sight of their patient
toll, their cheerful submission, their ac-
ceptance of whatever fate may bring.
For all of us bear burdens of one sort or
another, all of us need the cheer and
stimulus of such examples.
Recently an instance illustrating what
we have said fell under our observation.
Years ago we knew a gentleman who by
industry and business sagacity had be-
come the possessor of a handsome COM
petence. His family had grown to ma
turity enjoying all the advantages of
metropolitan life for education and ac-
complishment. We supposed him still
riding upon the full tide of prosperity.
But year or two since reverses over
took him which compelled the sacrifice
of beautiful residence ON the Hudson,
the sale of the carpets and costly pic
lures, the giving up of every luxury and
the recourse to daily toll for daily bread.
Living in modest retirement, surrounded
by an intelligent and industrious fam
lily, sustained and cheered by devoted
steadily and patiently trying to lay the
corner stone of another competence.
The seamstress was long ago dismissed,
there was no housemaid, no laundress.
no cook. The young ladies, accom-
plished musicians, thorough French
scholars, well-read in literature and po-
etry, devoted themselves to the mastery
of household accomplishments. The
mother showed with equal pride dress
her daughter had ironed with nicely,
and q drawing she had finished with
skill and taste. In the evening we had
music from Beethoven and Mendelssohn
and in the morning delicious butter
cakes from the same fair fingers. Every
ray of sunshine in that family landscape
was dwelt upon and enjoyed; we need
no finger to point out shadows; instead
of mourning over the loss of fortune
the whole family were resolved into d
committee of the whole to improve the
neighborhood in which they live, to diff
fuse intelligence, to inspire aspiration
toward culture and refinement, and
awaken the love for that which is i'm.
perishable. Sweet are the uses of ad.
versity Accepted, it is the browning
grace" that sanctities the whole of life
Honorable indeed are the stars it sets
upon the forehead and upon the breast
though to careless eyes they seem but
wrinkles or marks of vulgar toll
Plunged in the flame, tempered in thc
e-brook, polished by long attritio1
must the blade be ere it may receive the
tool Of the graver, be set in the jewelet
hilt, and flash in the air as the genera
waves it in front of his on-movins
legions.
30 well for him whose will is strongl
| He suffers but he will not suffer long;
| lie suffers, but he cannot suffer wrong;
| For him nor moves the loud worlds random mock,
| Nor all calamity's hugest waves confound.
| Who seems promontory of rock,
That compassed round with turbulent sound,
| In middle ocean meets the surging shock,
| Tempest-buffeted citadel-crowned."
| N. Y. Tribune.