The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-10-11
The Al Of Coming Down.

there are none more universal than
which compels Us to come down from
some height which we had really or In
Imagination been occupying. We may
safely say that no one Is wholly exempt
from this modification In some OF Its
various branches, while To most Of us 1t
Is a frequent, though a most unwelcome
guest. We are ever learning, through
hard lessons, that we cannot have what
we had longed for or keep what we had
gained; that we cannot reach the emil
nence Of fame, or position, or wealth,
which we had intended TO occupy;
that we are not so wise. or learned, or
skilful,. or attractive as we had thought
ourselves; that We are ranked far below
the estimate which we felt sure We de-
served.
Upon the way in which we accept
these disappointments, which In some
shape come TO us all, depends much of
the happiness and usefulness of our
lives, One way is to give up TO the
bitterness of feeling that attends the
awakening from these pleasant dreams,
and to resolve that since we cannot at
tain what we had desired, we will
strive no longer. The child that Is de-
MED a coveted plaything will spurn all
others; the youth who fails to win the
honors of his class will throw up his
studies in disgust; the man who cannot
serve his country in the way he pro-
poses will not serve 1t at all the work.
er in any sphere who discovers that he
has but second-rate abilities, where he
thought he had genius, scornfully re-
fuses to put them forth. There Is a
sort of herolsm TO the young and UNI
disciplined about this kind of coming
down. "All or nothing seems to be a
gallant motto, which will insure either
a grand success or a tragic and digni-
fed failure. Yet when we closely ex-
anime the sentiment we find 1t full of
childish vanity, cOnceit and impotence.
1t is one which, if universally carried
out, would put an untimely end to all
excellence, would plunge the world
into a dark and hopeless despair. To
the extent to which any individual in
dulges in it, it will produce a like effect
upon himself and his prospects. Look
ing heroic at the first glance, a nearer
view shows it to be puerile and IRA
tional. For one chief element of all
real progress is the discovery of our
ignorance, u mistakes, our deticien-
cies, that we may rectify them-the
opening up of wider fields and higher
a%scents, that we may pursue them. To
throw up effort because we have not
reached the top, or because a fellow
traveller is a little more advanced than
we are, is of all things most foolish.
We shall, indeed, learn to think more
humbly of ourselves and our abilities
as we learn to know them more truly
but true heroism will accept the lesson
bravely, and continue TO struggle up
ward manfully. 1t takes a much nobler
nature to persevere in doing the ut
most, although aware that the result
will not be above m%ediocrity, than to
work with superhuman energy for pre-
eminence. 1t is harder to accept a
lower position modestly and content
eddy, and to work in it heartily, than
recklessly to continue the descent; but
the one is the path of wisdom and I'LL
innate progress, the other that of folly
and inevitable ruin.
Especially is this true as regards
moral advancement. There Is a ten
dency to think that if we have fallen
below our standard of virtue we may
as well 60 on in the downward road.
One who does a mean, unjust or cruel
action loses something of his own self
respect, and makes a similar deed much
more easy. A few more like expert
ences, and he resigns himself to the
consciousness of being a mean, unjust
or cruel character. So the tempted one
who yields to the cravings of appetite
or passion, especially if reprOach and
disgrace follow, often gives up all
struggle against 1t, feeling that he has
already sunk so low that it matters not
how much lower he may 60. This
descent is often fastened by the readi-
ness with which others also give him
up. There is a general impression in
society, concerning those who have
gone to certain lengths in vice or sin,
that they cannot be much worse, and
from this comes a proportionate dis
regard of their future actions. Never
was there a more fatal mistake. No
one Is in that condition. Whatever he
has done, however low he may have
fallen, he may heap up his guilt and
add to his ruin; while on the other
hand, he may turn and forsake his sin
and become once again self-respecting.
Surely 1t is cruel to withdraw the help
ing hand from any one who may yet be
rescued and placidly to behold them
sinking into deeper degradation.
1t may help us to bear the many
hard lessons of coming down, If we re-
member that, after all, they are needful
for our bestand mostpermanentgrowth
The well-kept lawn can only retain Its
fine texture and velvety surface by con-
tinual mowings. If this is neglected II
grows rank, coarse and unseemly. So,
If we are to become rich and full in
character, nobler in endeavor, lovely in
disposition, we must have the rank
growth in which we delight repeatedly
cut down; we must sublnit cheerfully