The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-25
oilo NJ. 4.
sloth. Faith and Charity.
BY MRS. N, s. WHITAKER AUTHOR OF "ALBI
HASTINGS.

BY MRS. NJ s. WHITAKER, AUTHOR OF ALBERT
HASTINGS.
Activity belongs ~ animated nature, while
In healthy and unimpared condition.
However poets may attempt to enthe le
thean repaae with ideal hlisa, VI can never he
shown that want If action cuuduees either to
human felicity OF usefulness. In hia Castle
of Incidence Thomson has expended rare
powers Of description In portrayina stag
nant, sleepy bli4a, which, while soothing,
wearies, and while dali9hting ravoits The
dull stupefacatiun OF dormant Intelligence
hangs about its inmates like a fatal night.
mare, and LIES bounding currents move lazl-
ly through mau'e vains, under such enthral-
mant, like mountain-burn stream uholtsi In
liza forest pathway by deeaying leaves and
anglomerated rubbish.
Eennyson, III another vain, attempts to
robe In quiet glory the obtuaaaess aud alb
straetion Of thoae fed by that fatal plant
which prustratea energy, altences grief, aud
Tor actuallty siyes VIZ phantasmsanra But
there Ia an Older aud more renowned bard
than either Of these, who sang th1us Anda OF
years ago how Circe with her deusiva cup
and hooking feasts, by Frustrating all power
OF resistance In her victims, reduced them
afterwards 81 a bastal state. Taasu copied
In his Armiia thiR greatest of poets
who most fnrciby depicts enticements to
Aloth and inglOr0ua ease
The serpent, emhtematio Of humanty's
lowest instincts, lle4 dNztuR In sunny fena or
aedgy pools, till aume victim approaching
his uhacure retreat, ha suidanly darts hte
death armed heat i9licts cureess wound,
or awalluwa hia prey. at once relapainH Into
that Hulieiul sHd somntferous autetude
which liz his delight There appaara IL quad
raned tribes singular aud disgusting type
mounts unwilliUgly tree, huge tta branches
and davoura, Leaf IVY leaf, All ita 1arniture
Including buds and sprays, then, with wall
ing cry, dropa to baGth reluctantly. moving
his ilmpish body ~ the nearest TRUNK, which
ascending. he deliberately pursues his de-
ateuctive vocation.
Action only action. bodily as we'll "a mem
tal potshes ton uaa tue santtaut living
creature, man-use III intellectual IA wntl "A
material sense, Returning 20 past ages Of the
world, we speak uf somnuR, hut hts hnneh-
cent innanca, amllR pagan id0laters, was
only praised "A AFT riding relief to overcome
humanity. Hia poppy wreath was never In
voked except ~ a prompter to leedtA re-.
pose. There IL M hero celebrated IN ancient
song but tho man ~ unttrinG and brave Labor.
Even Hercules, afterwards divinity, per
formed Tpats never tahe achieved Ivy dtscirIes
of Sloth. Nature herself furnishes us with
examples az we have shown, Of idlenesa aai
degradation, where naeton governs aai-
mated existence In a lower sphere than that
occupied hy man,
we forhear descending into those dreadful
and trranadiahle CULTS into which idnnaea
aud its sure successor want. plunge mankind,
and content ourselves With q contemplation
of the benefits aerruing from industry.
This ia the glory " Agriculture. 81 the me-
chanio arts. az sGianea IN every branch, and
of literature In ts h9hnat developments.
Headwork or hsndwork IA ealaliy honorable;
tt IL only slath which s1kens aud defurms
man i material organ 8ttiun. while itdlms his
mental vision aud gives him over to the Use
less lumber of valuelcss creation. What tt,y
hands find 70 do. dc it with all thy might,
since there Is neither work nor device found
In the grave to W len we haste.
FAITH AND CHARITY.
How differently are these states az mind
understood by naapla always pretending 20
admire them. There is something high aud
noble In Faith, the exercise Of which, in It's
MODEST sense. seGregates mind and Thought
from both past and present. Etgie-ltke II
fixes Its tAans ou futurity aud will not be
diverted from that unseen but denly gap
pied Ideal good, more p ,tent than tangible,
bat passing CERTAINTY. Faith the phnltx Of
the soul, smilas at the ashas OF the urn as
sareney As IL does at the drawn dagger.
What Campbell, III his classical and superb
Illustrations of Hope addnces. may, with
equal felicity. be applied to Faith since that IL
built on trust, aud Hope only combines the
eros OF q ssire with the at 'rner quality OF con-
idsnce or trust, In Other words, Faith. Nov
this self-abnagatng Faith, when repostng on
Erail humanity, Is often hroken reed.
Oh, With what full epuading trnst.
leaasd upon tha1 stay pf dustl
we sometimes hear the heart, bruised and
shattered by the ingcattude and injustice Of a
friend exelaim. The shock experienced by q
noble nature under these circumstances Is
something fearful 10 contemplate, and we
turn from the sickeniuR picture OF its desola
tion remembering the words OF lsraels mon
arch minstrel:
"rhair poison IL like the poison OF deaf
adder. rhey are like the serpent, that stop
peth mis- ear.
"Surely men OF low degree are vanity, and
men OF high degree arc 4 lie. to ha laid Ia the
balance they are altogether lighter than
vanity"
Again: Cease from man whose breath Is
In his nostTils."
Bat we are not Ignorant that there is One
on whom yolden-wingei FAITH as she looks
into futurity, may east an undoubtng eye.
The better life, rising from ashes AMI deflle-
ment, fullils this Faith in the presence OF
Deity, ami elapptug her triumphant pinions.
exclatms The glorious work Is donet hui
mantty has clothed itself IN fadeIess and un-
decayins robes Faith Is realized, immortal
ity has become the inherttauc4 OF man.
Charity pertains exclusively 70 this life
not day, scarce an hour OF existence, but
this heavenly virtue is called into play. Hap
Ply those most accustomed t. heed it merci-
ful and kindly prOmpuagsi That judgment
Is infinitely important In its exercise being a
self evident iact few will gainsay. Ii was
once affirmed by d thieyish aud plausible ser
want that his master had trusted him too
farm other words, that misplaced conf
dence had thrown temptation III his way. The
miscreant sought by this tribute to shirk Ia
part responsibility for ingratitude and dis
honesty by drawing reproach on his patrons
singular viii tue. There was a shade of verify
In the remark, ana we would add that, like all
Christian excellence. even Charity may be too