The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-01-10
SETTLING ACCOUNTS.
A View Of r1luttrrs aud Things nj tho End OF
the YcRr.

|
4 View Of Matters nnd Things nj the End OF
| the YrRr.
Bishop Clark writes to the Ledger Us
| follows The end Of the year is the
time for settling our accounts. We look
into our affairs to see how we stand IL
the world. And how are you getting on
I hear, in reply, all sorts Of voices in the
air. some quite cheerful and others very
sad. er a.. r5,z .-
The first to which I give heed is
neither joyful or mournful-the man
says 81 hold my own; l owe no one
anything that l cannot pay !; have
been able to obtain food and raiment for
myself and my family, aud therefore l
suppose 1 ought 10 be content. l con-
fess, however, that I would like to have
laid up something against rainy day
I would like to have made some little i'll
yestment that would bring me an income
without working for it so hard; I would
like to put up something for my chill
dren, rs I sec my neighbors doing around
me-" There are few Of us who would
not sympathize with this feeling. But,
il your work has been well done, you
have gained something beside food and
clothing the fiber Of your soul has
been made stronger, and if you can
leave your children the legaoy OF good
example, put them straight upon their
feet to earn IN honest living asyou have
done, they will be better of in the end
than il you bequeathed to. them the
means Of living in idleness and luxury.
Tho strong men aro those who find their
capital in their brains, md earn credit
by their conduct. These are the men
who rule.
From another quarter hear more
doleful sound, and the voice says: ~
have not been able to hold my own. l
am worse of than was when the year
began. I had nothing then, and have
less than nothing now, because l have
accumulated debts which l nm unable to
pay" This is bad, very bad for we
may sentimentalize about the mora!
beauties OF povertyasmuch rs We please,
when we get at the real thing, with its
daily huugerings and shiverings, its pitt
full make-shifts and dismal contrivanccs,
skulking around corners, or slipping
quickly into doorways to avoid the mex
orablo creditor; its efforts to keep up
appearances and final abandonment OF
all regard for appearances; l say, when
We get at tho real thing, it proves to be
very disagreeable and repulsive thug.
But it may DO your own fault that you
have not succeeded any better; you may
have folded your arms while others were
working waiting for opportunities in.
stead Of making the opportunity, as oil
successful people do; laboring only when
you felt like it, which may have been
very seldom, saying to yourself, because
you have been SO unfortunate rs to bc
born into the world, therefore tho world
owes you living, whereas it really owes
you only what you earn. Or, perhaps,
you have not been very indolent, but
have lived careleSsly aud beyond your
income, contracted debts, without know
ing how they were to be met, and i'll.
dulged i'll luxuries which you could not
afford. You hoped that somehow mat-
ters would come ont right, that some
thing favorable would turn up, but the
year has closed aud brought no relief.
We may be sorry for such disappointed
men, but we, do not altogether regret
that they have some anxiety and suffer-
ing, because this may lead them to do
better in the future. To persist in this
kind Of hfO will inevitably lead not only
to social degradation, which is no slight
calamity, but also to the ntter deteriora-
ton of personal character, which is Il
thousand times worse. The young man
who begins with running in debt is in
danger OF running into something worse
than debt before long. 1t is a pitiable
sight to see one trying to live by his
wits, with perhaps very slender stock
Of wit to draw upon. 10 DO rich and
and torpid ia bad enough, but to be
poor and torpid is sure destruction.
Tho next voice that we hear is in
another tone; the note is still, Sad, but
the roughness is gone. This man says:
at is not my fanlt that l have failed to
better my position. l havo done the
best that l could. 1 have toiled hard,
lived carefully, expended frugally, but
everything has turned against me. II l
had received my dues rs faithfully
as have tried to pay my debts, il
/ had had the same return for my lnbors
thdt others have hnd, l would not com.
plain. As it is, l am disappointed and
disheartencd. I do not like to ask for
fayors; l will not be dishonest. l am
trying to do my duty iu the state OF ito
where God has placed me, but l meet
with no encouragement and no success.
Tho new year comes to me dark with
clouds; it brings with it heavier load
than I am able to bear-my filth in
Providence is almost gonc." Beware OF
that! To lose your faith would bo far
worse than to lose your money. l do
not know why you are thus sorely tried,
but God does, and you will find it out
by-and-bye. The best fruit does not
always grow in the richest soil. Awhile
ago, I saw mnn removing tho mellow
earth from tho roots OF q tree, and sub
stituting in its place cinders and ashes
the tree was growing too luxuriantly.
and the vitalizing sap ran to wood mud
leaves. l do not mean to say that you
arc to sit down doggedly and look for
no further worldly prosperity; it rather
becomes You to believe that il, with q
buoyant heart and strong will, you
persevcre in well.doing, change for
the better will soon come. You will not
be tried beyond your power Of endur-
auce. Some OF those who have been
most prosperous in tho end, met with
tho severest rebuffs in the beginning.
One further voice breaks the stiffness,
,,l that 20 1,r;ul, opl incnud II Iays !.