The Virginia star., 1882-11-11
THE BENEFITS OF TROUBLE.

THE BENEFITS OF TROUBLE.
an essay read by Miss j. j. TURPIN before the
literary ~ociety of Richmond Insutute.)
Life Is a school. Here we are to prepare
for the great Beyond. God himself is our
teacher, and every circumstance is book !
from which we can learn some useful lesson.
We read with aviiity the pages OF pleasure,
and often satisfied with being entertained.
we seek not to be instructed. We compre>
hend not the benefits to be derived from
trouble, and we fain would pass Its sober
leaves uncut. Happiness has Its own teach.
ings of worth to be treasured, sorrow holds
its own lessons of wisdom to be conned.
Whether privations and disappointments
shall injure or elevate us. depends upon
ourselves. This one thing is true: that
nothing is, but what Is best.
"AI is of God that is aud Ii to be,
And God is good.
Let this suffice u.s."
Trouble affects our relations with our fel>
low-man. He who has suffered, can best
sympathize with sufferer. Happy, careless
tender hearted people may utter exclama>
tions of commiseration on encountering
they eau to alleviate the pitltul condition;
but they cannot feel, as does one who has
sounded the depths of similar woe. The
hale and hearty man, who has never known
DAYS illness, may pity the invalid confined
to his bed week after week; but he cannot
sympathlze with MIN. Pity feels foB its OBJ
ject as suffering, as weak, as Inferior Sym
pathy implies fellow feeling, and it cannot
be exercised in the fullest degree without an
experience of similar nature. Man Graves
| sympathy to the same extent that he shrinks
from pity. sympathy cheers, consoles
@troagiiA4+s, taaa snsAiresS aa&san "
/ the bitter from memory, sWeetens tne cup
of agony, and nerves for future connics.
Sympathy does all this, and only he who has
suffered can give sympathy TO the sufferer :.
| Personal trouble not only teacnes us ito
| feel another's woe," but 1t shows US how to
| help that other Ia his misery. Kind but ln>
experienced friends, in attempting TO cond0le,
/ NAV tear open the bleeding wounds afresh.
| He who has himself been borne down by the
same affection, deity and tenderlY binds up
| the sores and applies balm to the broken
spirit. The heart refuses the consolation OF
him who knows not whereof ne speaks. He
means WELL" is tue Inward cry, ''Dut ne does
not knowl" When one comes who, from his
own hiesexperlence, understands all the
pain and acne, the mourner bends the head
and meeky accepts the offered words Of
advice and suggestion.
Trouble not only creates sympathy for the
suffering, 1t not only gives knowledge ofhoW
to assist them, but it serves as an impetus to
increased activity for the good ot others.
He who has no selfish interests to abstract
him, who has no personal qualifications to
him, who has lost his own great hope ofhap>
piness, turns to lind his life>work among the
suffering of mankind. He who, surrounded
by all things essential to human happiness.
lives at peace with God and man leads q no>
bic life; but he who, disroDed OF all hopes o.
earthly happiness, lives but TO do benefits,
leads nobler life.
Trouble develops characters, II has ten
dency to induce thou int. 10 promote medita
tion.
"'Tis held that sorrow makes US wise.' :
1t gives an experience that is valuable In ey'
cry phase of lite. This experience sometimes
proves its utility bs enabling Us to bear bst>
ter the constant ills of existence, sometimes
by helping US to help others, and sometimes
by aiding Ia the creation OF works OF art
Had Tennyson not lost the friend OF his
youth, I'm Memoriamu would never have
been given to the world. Mlton's "Samson
Agonistes'' owes its vivid portrayal OF the
hero's woes, TO the foct of the authors own
blind and suffering old age. Hyperion" Il
, the ougrowth OF Longfellow's struggle with
sorrow
Trouble secures self.control. He Who, Ia
the days Of prosperity, yielded to the expires,
sion OF every emotion. who allowed his FACE
TO be the index OF his heart. must, when the
tides of adversely sweep over him, pursue .
different course. He must not oyershadow
the world with his woe; he must not bury
J himself IN shell of dependency. tie must
subdue the elements within; he must say TO
his soul, peace. be stilIn aud all must be
still. Dignity requires 1t, duty demands it.
Only he has patience who has endured and
, waited. The germs of patience lie In every
nature. but they only take root and spring
up in the glow Of affiIction. He who has
ayailed himself OF this discipline. Is unmoyed
, amid annoyances, is unlrriIated under dis
turbances, IS calm even Ia anguish. Under
all circumstances he possesses hs soul In
patience.
Strength comes to him who suffers long
, and who suffers In silence. The God~like
ii lcontinaed on the fourth page.)