The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-11-06
For The Cecil Wing.
THE IFS THAT CONQUER Us.
BY REV. 7. L. TOMKINSON.

One of the most formidable lessons that
we are put into lis world to learn is the
great value of the available treasures that
God has put within the reach of every one
of US. 1t is not di fficult to see the value
of certain special gifts, such as gold or
honor, or power, and there are incentives
in each one Of these to awaken ambition
and stir into activity all the latent forces of
our being. Bat we fail to see the real
good of life in this struggle after special
gifts, if we ignore the blessings nearer at
hand and more important, and hence more
valuable to us. And indeed, we frequently
life, because we strive to " climb up some
other way" than the steady, sturdy road
of industry, economy, and patience.
Labor is worship, the robin is singing,
Labor is worship, the wild bee is ringing.
Listen! that eloquent whisper upspring-
ing,
Speaks to thy soul from out Natures
great heart"
Yet we fail to learn this precious lesson,
because we allow so many ifs to crowd in
upon our lives and drive us from this sure
footing through their potency.
We see a gigantic if in almost every life
around us. We occupy no position, whether
rich or poor, wise or ignorant, sick or well,
but there is an ideal position so much bet
ter, that in our desire to occupy it, we be-
oop,o c,ticfio1 ~, orr oup ara
ever thrustng an if between duty and its
performance; and in this way this little
word Of but two letters becomes such a
tyrant over US that men and women who
by proper use of the elements of power
within their grasp, cover under it and
through its omnipotence become the mere
slaves of circumstance.
A young man stands and looks at the
promises of life. Along one path all is
good, pure, joyous; over it angels are
lowering, and beyond is victory and glory;
along the other path is sin, folly, death.
but it is covered with the glitter of beauty,
and the path is an easy one-all down hill.
Which shall he choose? If the first-what
care of life, what patience, what prayerful-
ness. Oh, how formidable these ifs look
when contrasted with the path of sin; and
many, alas so many, shrink from the duty,
but joy, of the first, and choose the glitter,
the ease-the death of the second.
" Let no man trust the first false step
OF guilt; it hangs upon a precipice,
Whose steep descent in last perdition
ends"
But let him climb the blessed path of
life, if it costs patience, if it costs watch
fulness if it costs prayerfulness; for it will
put an imperishable crown upon his brow
when he reaches Heaven.
There are duties that are ever demanding
| the attention of that Christian man. Near
his home is a poor wanderer from God.
He has long felt it to be his duty to speak
kind word of promise to him, but he has
not done it. He says, 81 would do it if
my own life had been more spo tless, if my
| gifts were better, or if had any hope of
retaining him." and thus the ifs stand in
the way of his duty and usefulness, and
the wanderer perishes, saying, Ono man
cares for my SOUL"
| All are not alike in natural gifts. All
are not alike favorably situated for gain
| ing education, wealth, position; but while
this is true, there is vast field for all
whose determination leads them to pursue
the way of uprightness, and scattered
around their every day life are gems of
purest mould that they may gather to form
eoronct that shall be the ensignia of their
| heroism and the promise of their victory.
Then we will put the lever of noble reso-
luton under all the ifs that have burdened
our lives, and with divine help will throw
| them out, and then,
"To hallowed duty,
Here, with loyal and heroic heart
Bind we our lives"
Zion, Maryland, 1875.
| How MOUNTAINS ARE SAWED INTO
The contracting or shriveling of the earth
causes the rocks near the surfact to wrin-
kle or fold, and such fold, was started
athwart the course of the river. Had it
been suddenly formed, it would have been
an obstruction sufficient to turn the water
in new course to the east, beyond the
extension of the wrinkle but the emery
ence of the fold above the general surface
of the country was little or no faster than
the progress of corrosion of the channel.
We may safely say, that the river did
not cut its way down through the noun
tains, from height of many thousand feet
above it's present site; but, having an ele.
walton differing but little, perhaps, from
what it now has, as the fold was lifted, il
cleared away the obstruction by cutting a
canon and the walls were thus elevated OF
either side.
The river preserved its level, but noun,
tains were lifted up, as the saw revolves or
fixed pivot, while the log through which
it cuts is moved along. The river was the