Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-31
Providence, which watches over thee

can be alike Injurious, and have grea
and destructive influence upon thy de
signs and plans. Hope not too much
This often leads men into unpleasant
situations, az he too coufi lently giVe'
himself up to his expectations; ane
scarcely doubts that this or that
which he desires will surely come (
pass, because there are, perhaps, som,
probabilities of it. He makes hi
plans accordingly, and permits him
self, blinded by his hopes, to be led M
TO foolish undertakings. What The
heart desires, that it hopes for; it for
gets how often, already, it has been
deceived in its hopes.
Hope not too nIuchl For it not 1T.
filled. it will only put thee in i'll humoi
and destroy Thy courage. Thou only
preparest for myself bitter moments
which thou mightest have avoided
Disappointed hopes always leave 9
pain behind, which may make us M
just toward others, unjust toward
Providence. Aud whom shall we &C
cuse, but ourselves, if we have fl utter
ed ourselves with vain, foolish dreams
and built air-eastles?
Hope not too much! For this makes
thee unprepared for all sorts Of posi-
BILE mstortunes, which may befal thee.
He who fatters his soul with too
bountful expectations enervates 1t;
weakens it, SD that it cannot bear mp
against the storm. when unforeseen, it
breaks upon it from all sides. The
wise, that is, the christian, thankfully
receives his fate, good or bad, from
the hands of The Eternal Ruler of the
World. Whether the next month
will wreath . crown of unexpected
JOY. or will point to coffin in which
a dear departed one rests; he awaits
both with christian composure.
Hope only as much, as thou canst
agreeably acGnire by just and virtu-
GUS course. This hope will seldom
prove abortive. The virtues which
thou practicest bring joy, even in this
world. The evil practices, the faults,
which thou torsakest, will reconcile
thee with those who now despise or
hate thee. The good qualities which
thou adopted thy friendly manners,
the desire unseltishIy to serve others /;
thy endeavor to always speak the best,
that can be said of others thy zeal in
business entrusted to thee; thy with
drawing thysrlf from all improper as
soctatlons, will win love aud esteem
love for thee, from those who now look
down upon ihee with indifference.
For in what consists the enduring hap
piness of mankind? In this, that man
Is satisfied with himself, satisfied with
his own conduct, and is able to win
the esteem ard friendship of ali good
people. Art thou not yet happy ?
Who binders thee from being so
Why wilt thou not lay ASIDE many
faults, Of which thou art conscious,
with which thou repelest others from
thee, and with winch thou robbest
myself of tranquility of mind, and the
peace OF God? Why dost thou foolish
ly hope to receive from others the hap
piness which thy own hands can better
and more enduringly create for thy
self? Perhaps it would be TOO diff
cult for thee TO change in this or that ;
thou hast not the courage to make the
attempt
Hope for no more consideration or
prosperity than thou art able to &C
qnire by thy own industry and labor.
Count always only upon myself and
the blessing Of God, not upon the as
sisIance of others, not upon fortunate
incidents, not upon blind chances or
that an unexpected inheritance, a
prize in lottery will overwhem thee
with riches. The more man depends
upon himself the less dependent he is,
upon others; the greater he is, the
more free, the more noble and capable
of doing good Then therefore dost
thou hope for a higher standing among
mankind, or for the requirement OF
great riches? Is it not because II
flatters thy vanity? Now, thou un'
worthy one, shall God perform won.
ders and disturb the order of the
world, to crafty thy secret pride I
No who can not be contented and
happy with ihat which he can attain
by his own industry and cheerful la
Dor, is surely worthy of no great for
tune
Hope for only so much pleasure in
this world as thou, through thy prn-
dence in human life, canst prepare for
myself | constantly refer thee to
myself. THOU shalt be the creator OF
thy own happiness !; for this God has
furnished thee reason and understand
ing. Avoid with prudence all danger
Gus and venturesome undertakings ;
order thy household with prudence ;
choose thy friends with prudence ;
improve with prudence and zeal every
opportunity to better thy situation IN
an honorable manner deport thyself
with prudence toward persons of 9TH
er ways of thinking and standing; by
so doing thou shalt spare tbyselt mum
berless sorrowful hours, and build tor
myself in the circle of lite in which
thou standest quiet paradise, winch
Will afford thee more delight than al
the AIRY castles of Thy hopes.
Consider time ~ a vacant field, up
on which neither happiness nor un'
happiness grow Of themse yes. With
Thy own band thou must improve u
and build upon it. What thou sowesl
IN this field, thou wilt reap. In thu
field, pray in this field, labor, and The
blessings OF Heaven will crown thy eft
forts.
And if unexpected good fortune falls
in thy way, joy winch thou coulds
not have expected only the more
agreeabIy wilt thou be surprised, III,
more wilt thou be blessed. All, no"
rich is God, how Overlooking Hi
goodness Yes, IN future years, with
out thy expectation or asking, He vii
send thee many unexpected joys.
Fear not too much! Fear OF thu