Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-06

1 D
happiness falls down upon most hearts
like dew or sunlight upon the grass. The
return of spring, the glories of sum ner,
the rustling leaves and ripe fruit of autumn,
the snoW-storm of winter, all alike bring
joy to the young heart. No doubt you all
remember the far-off time when the first
flower of spring and the first white frost of
autumn gave you the same happiness.
But as years come and go, Nature is less
kind. and, like cruel step-father, sends
US away from home to work for any form
| of blessedness of which the heart NAV
dream. Gates of joy that stand always
open in youth close up forever in middle
life, and for the most part only one gate
leading to spiritual peace.
It is indeed a grand gateway, perhaps
more magnificent than the windows
through which streamed the light of
childhood's days-the gateway of a noble
occupation. To go to rest at night from
the labors of a good calling, and to wake
in the morning to its voice, is to find the
| best happiness Of all middle and later
years. At times the heart may long
for idleness, and in weary moments
may picture leisure full of
pleasure, but these dreams are only de-
lusiOns, comong not from the souls Wis
busy life of earth has always come a di-
vine peace which no aimless career can
ever bring. When the pursuit is not per
mitted to encroach upon the health and
full vigor of the body, when it occupies
but does not enslave, when it develops
rather than palsies, it is the path of hap
piness which no Calypso can equal in her
enchanted isle. Happiness will never
suffer herself to be made the direct and
chief object Of life. The more one longs
and languishes after this beauty the m ore
invisible she becomes. But when the
heart is occupied by some great moral in
dustry, tn en- happiness is all around by
day and by night. Happiness demands a
powerful central occupation upon which
to fasten itself like the ivy to the solid
masonry, or like the acanthus leaves to
the Corinthian column. Ennui is a dis
ease that springs up from the marsh of
idleness 1t has broken more hearts than
were ever broken by love or religion.
Bancroft says: ambition itself is not SO
reckless as ennui clemency is the attri-
butte of ambition, but ennui has the taste
of cannibal." Jean Paul says: GA
scholar is never miserable" Thus it ap-
pears that out of constant noble employ
ment comes happiness as light from mo-
ton of an ether as music comes from the
vibration of strings.
submit, without argument a fifth re-
Election found in the influence of occupa-
ton upon public morality. Industry is
the mother of Virtue.
From these thoughts let us pass to con-
fess worth that attaches to the Christian
religion. 1t is religion so wonderful in
its truths, and duties, and hopes, that it
comes to man with all the length and
breadth of pursuit. In hours of toll
and of rest, in the busy streets and on the
lonely ocean, in youth and old age it has
proved itself able to fill up all the chambers
OF the soul, leaving no empty house in
viting the wandering evil spirits, but
showing us in the soul temple with the
angels of God passing in and out at all
the windows. Combining with all the
great or humble professions, winding it.
self around the justice of the lawyer, or
the politics of the statesman, or the craft
ofthe artisan, or the studies of the learned,
It forbids the soul from sinking. 1t deco
rates all the pillars Of the temple of being.
If to the ordinary pursuits of man we add
this pursuit, the Christian religion, you
will have found the best path along which
mortal foot can journey-the best as to
the needs of society, the best as to public
morality, the best as to happiness.
If you will take your stand among these
virtues of a great pursuit, you will be en-
abled to interpret earth in better light.
Labor becomes pleasure. The profess
sions become a development of mind and
a consolation to the heart. There is to be
great calling, divine mission, con-
fessed by every individual, and then it is
to be faithfully pursued to the very last of
life, and then this pursuit must be so COM
Dined with religion that it will look be-
yond the grave. Armed with such
mental and spiritual calling, the heavy,
dreary hours Of earth will each year be-
come fewer and fewer. The little things
of this life, its gold and silver, and raj
ment and equipage, will be overshadowed
by the charms of ones own mission.
Temptation to vice will affect very little
soul so fixed in a definite career. The
rudeness of man, the SANDER of enemies.
will bring little grief to spirit full of
blessed elf-consciousness. Under the in
fluence Of such an occupation Of the
heart, there is no longer any time that
drags slowly, but the days and years fly
along lightly as the touch of angels
feet. 1t is the lost soul that longs for
something to help it kill time" Hence
an English scholar said, 81 pity the un
learned gentleman on a rainy day"
" Busy to the LAST is no doubt a motto
which Nature has written down for the
deep study and obedience of man. And
this principle, we'll obeyed, keeps away
the longest the 90 good-bye" to earth