Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-10-26
Make the Best of Things.


rowing trouble, and discomfort is the
"little fox that destroys the sweet
ness of many of our grapes. We are
not satisfied with the woes that cluster
about our path, but will persist in TAX
ing thought for the morrow, thereby
depriving ourselves of the peace and
pleasure which the present offers for
our acceptance. A little poem that /
learned a quarter of a century ago,
has been Of great service in compel
ling my mind to accept the happiness
which can be obtained to-day without
forecasting troubles which may be
avoided in the future. 1t runs thus:
Our ills are not so many,
Nor SO hard to bear below,
But our fears in dread of the future,
Are more than our present woe. ~.
We see with our vision imperfect
Such causes for doubt and fear.
Some that are yet far in the future,
And some that may never be near
While. if we would trust in His wisdom,
Whose purpose we may not see
We should learn, whatever our trial,
AS our day our strength shall be-
Our hearts in the hour of twilight
Have sunk beneath their load
Yet felt, in the solemn midnight,
Secure in the arms of God.
1t is needful for the housewife to
plan her daily work ahead; and for
the farmer to make his arrangements
for summer and winter seed time and
harvest. And those who are not wise
enough to plan their work in advance,
but who live an aimless, indefinite life,
are the very ones who do not make the
best of things, who do not avail them
selves of the opportunities which, if
rightly improved, will lead to the high
road Of success; or on the other hand,
who do not observe the small begin
ming, which will in the end prove dis
aStrouS and OyerWhelm them with
ruin.
Frequently domestic troubles are the
little foxes that destroy the usefulness
of so many of our lives. Perhaps we
take no heed of the loneliness of the
autumnal coloring, of the wealth of
flowers that bloom by our paths, of
the sweetness of the air, and the
brightness of the sunshine, because of
the petty cares of the household, which
canker so. painfully about our souls;
and our thoughts run upon to-mor-
rows washing or ironing, baking Or
sewing, instead of upon the beauty
and fragrance which surrounds us,
and the heavenly influences which can
be had for the asking. Surely there is
real trouble about US without
the necessity of looking ahead for it.
Sorrow and sadness, suffering and sin
come to us all in one way or another;
and we must bear each others bur-
dens, as well as our own brayely, say
ing in our hearts, they are sent in
And there are no griefs so
heavy that they cannot be made lighter,
if we will only strive to make the best
Of them. e." -.s
Let the mistress of the home in
dulge in fretfulness and complaining,
and her trials are doubled. and not
only her troubles, but also those of the |
family. Let the master of the family |
possess fault-fnding, querulous
spirit, and his sons and daughters will
recoil from him as soon as opportunity
offers. The spirit of making the best
Of everything is the true essence of
and contentment. There |
is no labor that cannot be Iightened by |
a merry laugh-no gloom or gravity |
that can resist its influence.
Oh, weary men and women! who |
seek for peace but find it not, who are
corroded and petrifed by life of hard |
and fierce toll, learn while |
yet it is day to make the best of every
thing! If one thing fail you, turn to
another, and learn how much there is
IN life to cheer, console, comfort and
enjoy. There is mine of gold, silver
and precious gems buried in every
human heart, if you will only dig
ieep enough to find it. Gather up the