The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-25
Borrowing Trouble.

This is one of the ''little foxes" that
spoil so many grapes for us. Not con-
tent with the ills we have, we are contlnu-
ally flying to others that we know not of.
taking anxious thought for the morrow.
anticipating thousand evils in the future,
and losing the peace and happiness the
present might Weld. While thus fore
casting trouble, opportunities leading 10
success pass unnoticed, as also the begin
nings of real disasters, both which we
might attend to, improving the first and
checking the last, if our thoughts were in
the present, as they should be.
1t is perfectly right, and indeed wise, TO
have plan of life running through the
years, and then to work up to il as we
may, day by day and hour by hour. Is il
not true that those most given to borrow
ing trouble are uncertain and aimless as
TO the work of their lives; that they drift
with the current instead of setting their
prows against wind and tide toward a GER
tain definite haven? But how if one can
not have plan; if ones movements are so
hampered by circumstances that he can
not feel certain of attaining the far distant
results of well-cOnsidered purposes? To
such may come with power the reflection
that man proposes and God disposes, that
the best laid plans are often overtaken
with ruin, and the most any of us can do
with certainty Of being in the right path
is to devote ourselves with ardOr and
without hesitation to the duty OF the hour,
turning everything that happens, whether
prosperous or adverse, to the furtherance,
as far as we may. of our designs.
How many of us in childhood in passing
over a winding country road, have not
thought, as he looked ahead that it was
certainly coming to an end. and then what ?
But rs he went on, turning in the road
gave rs TO see way out of our fanclcd en-
tanglement. just so in life, little way
ahead we fear that everything is coming
to a dead lock, but time takes us through
and often when we anticipate passing into
straits and shoals we find ourselves in
waters wide and deep.
We have real troubles enough most of us
without borrowing any from the future or
the past, and why not borrow joy? The
skies will always be blue though clouds
may overcast them at intervals the spring
will never fail TO come, with its wealth OF
glowing green, and we have the promise
that while the earth remaineth seed-time
and harvest shall not cease. SO will there
ever be reasons for thanksgiving, causes
for satisfaction, sources of joy in even the
GOlNCSl. lbt- II So NC illC % ttl y
open TO see them and the heart to feel. To
illustrate: not long ago we rode through
a charming section of country with an in
telligent and cultivated lady, whose con-
versation was not about the picturesque
landscape we were passing over, the be-
witching melody of birds that sang from
every b0ugh the vernal airs that played
about us. the wealth of blossoms that re-
minded us of the garden of Eden, but OF
petty housekeeping cares and small do
nestle troubles-the little foxes that spoil
so many women's lives. She was borrow
ing trouble from the past instead of open
ing wide her heart to all the beauty and
fragrance and melody that sought an i'll
terpreter there. Was that wisdom?
Philosophy and religion, either one, GER
tainly both together, will give any rational
soul peace. Where are the trets that
robbed our grandmothers of joys they de-
served to have? just where ours will be
fifty years hence. Were not those of them
who preserved unwrinkled brows and
placid tones. in spite of all that adverse
fate could bring, the truly wise and blessed:
If we believe that God is our father, that
He exercises not only general but a
special Providence over the children of
men. where does the prOprety of borrow
ing trouble have reasonable place? Let
us rather borrow JOY. and thus diSarm
the future of all evils but its Own.-Er-
chnnge.