Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-09
NIL DESPERANDUM.
An EsSay By Miss Emma E. II. Jones
Happy Sentiments and
Brilliant Thoughts.

The subjoined essay, entitled Nil Des-
perandum, is the production of Miss
Emma E. Il. Jones, daughter Of Colonel
Sam Jones of this county. As a produc-
ton Of a girl only fourteen years Of age,
it is not less remarkable for the beauty
Of its conception than the felicity of its
expression. The essay is as follows:
mo, neverl Every cloud has a silver
lizing, and He who wove it knows best
when to turn it out" Endeavor always
to look on the bright side of life, for how
ever gloomy it may be there is surely
some tiny ray of sunshine hidden behind
the sombre clouds which will finally
make its way through the riffs of azure
that here and there appear, and illumine
your dresry pathway with its gentle ra-
dance. Let the heavy clouds OF despair
drift slowly by, aud endeavor to gather
up the ssnbesms Of hope; imprison them
within your heart.recesses; with tender
touch Gull the fragrant howerets Of
faith that ever aud anon spring up along
the rugged highway Of life to lay up for.
ever within your soul Fanny Fern tells
US, truly, that the clusters OF hope may
be seen With the eye of faith, and after
every night. however long or dark, there
shall yet come a golden morning How
happy, how soul-inspiring the thought
that the clouds OF sorrow that now
darken our lives will some day be dissi-
pated by the genial sunshine Of Joy, and
the white.robed Angel of Peace assume
entire control of our lives, over which
the dusky form of "Infelice" now broods.
Ahl "Tis glorious to battle on with a
brave heart while covering pusillani-
nifty tHrns trembling back" Let not
the servile word surrender find a place
in the lexicon Of your life. What il sor-
row is now your portion! remember still,
+" Into each life some rain must fall, some
days be dark and dreary," and "your
lot is the fate common to all" This,
however, does not preclude the possible
realization Of happiness, for though the
present may be fraught with gloom, the
to. come may be crowned with roses, fra.
grant with the delicious odor OF hearts s.
ease. There are very few of US whose
lives are, like Salome Owens, "a mere
dreamy, aimless succession OF golden
dswns and scar~let-curtained sunsets-e
slow, quiet lsps:ng of weeks into months,
an almost stsgnant stream, curdled by
no eddies, treighted with few aspirations,
bearing no drift" for sombre clouds float
continually around US and almost per.
%petually curtain the stars" OF happiness;
out we should never allow the gray mist
of despair to settle around our heart.
strings, but TO look beyond the leaden
present to the light that shinas behind
the clouds and hope on, hope ever"
with the sweet hope resides the heavenly
light,
That pours remotest rapture on the sight,
Thine is the charm Of llfe's bswildered way
That calls each slumbering passion into
play"
Faith and persistency are lifs's
architects; while doubt aud despair bury
all under the ruins Of any endeavor. -
Steady perseverance in the pursuit OF
any object is almost always sure to meet
with q rich reward OF success. As the
old rule says, IF at first you don't sue
coed, try, try again" Every beginning
is difficult, and often the crown of most
brilliant success is hidden in a very dark
cloud The old Arabian adage, Despair
is a free man; Hope is a slave" is uu
doubtedly true. No, never despair, press
onward, ever onward with a brave heart,
surmount all obstacles, relax not your
e~ndelvors till you have attained the
topmost pinnacle of success. Let the
rose hued banner of hope wave proudly
over you, and never let it trail through
the dust of despair. The road to success
is always thorny, and is as thickly strewn
with shadows as Vallambrosa's vale
with autumn leaves" but let us ever
bear in mind Gods precious promise,
"Lol l am with you always; yea, even
unto the end" Never give upl when
one frail human reed after another breaks
or bends beneath you, lean on the
Rock Of Ages" Be hopeful; battle Oh
Ger the shadOw-darkened pathway; the
promised land lies beyond; you shall
at the end come forth crowned with the
palm wreath Of victory. Remember
" every cloud has a silver lining" a
golden edge, and let your motto ever be
Nil desperandum.'