Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-07-26
Written for the AGE.
For What DO We Live andsWhat.
Is the True Life?

We should live to be useful. Live
to give light to others. Live to cheer
the lone pilgrims of earth while tray
cling through this earthly vale of
tears. Live to accomplish the end
for which we were made, and quietly
and steadily go on doing good to our
selves and to those around us. The
great secret of life is to be happy our
selves, and to make al those who
come within the circle of our intlu-
ence happy also. This is a duty we
owe ourselves, our fellow beings, and
our God, when we do this, then
shall we live the true christian life,
then shall we hear the plaudit of
we'll done good and faithful servant
sit thou on my right hand. Man is
the noblest work of his creator. He
was made and fashioned after the i'm
age of his maker, and placed here up.
on the earth for good and noble pur-
poses, which consists in deeds of mer-
cy and charity, one towards another.
The poet has truly said, that it is not
all of life to live. That is, if we live
for ourselves only, we do not live the
true life, aud are no better than the
beasts of the field. But as said be-
fore, man is the noblest work of the
creator. After all things were made
then came forth man, the noblest Of
them all. And the God Of wisdom
implanted within his breast mind
capable of great improvement, and
he is placed here upon the earth to
cultivate and improve it; and he is
continually'reaching out to grasp the
great and fundamental truths which
lay at the foundation of the true life.
But what is the true life? 1t is to be
kind, generous forgivipg, and friendly
towards our fellow beings; and if we
see fellow mortal who, in an evil
hour has strayed far from the paths of
virtue, take him kindly by the hand
aud lead him gently back into the
paths of piety and peace, bid him
God speed, and tell him to 60 and sin
no more. This is the true life, and
the christian life. If we would exer-
else this same charity, one towards
another, the world would be made
better by taking part in the great
drama of life. But if we live for our
selves alone, and only to crafty our
own personal ambition, what better
are we than the beasts of fields. or the
birds of the air They live only to
satisfy their own particular want, and
the world is made no better for their
lives. But man, who is made but lit
tie lower than the angels OF Heaven,
must not copy from the brute creation,
but must remember that to him much
il given aud much will be required.
But what is required of him Acts of
mercy and charity to his fellow man,
which consists in visiting the sick and
administering to their wants, and ex'
tending a helping hand to brother
in distree, in feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked, and doing deeds
of kindness to all who come within
the sphere of bis influence. If we all
would strive to live this life, how
much better the world would be for
our lives and how much happiness
we should confer upon the human
race. But as we look abroad, through
out the world, we find that it is money
that makes the old mare go; and that
mankind worship the almighty dollar.
They live for money, they die for
money; and live or die, the cry is
money, money, my blessed money,
taka avarOthino, 7 have hut snare NV