The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-09-11
AND EXAGGERATING
TROUBLE.

The trials and diseouraoements of
life are many and great, it is true, but
there is no occasion for despairingly
yielding to their depressing influence,
and ceasing to hopefully stem the tide
OF adversely, however strong may be its
current There are no troubles now
greater than those which have been ex-
perienced in countless instances, and
through which a great multitude of
earth's troubled ones have been car
ried, and from which they have been
delivered, or in which they have been
sustained, comforted and blessed. The
fondest hopes may be disappointed, but
they may give place to better hopes, in
the realization of which the most an
noyingly and distressjngly baked may
be abundantly compensated for their
most grievous failures and losses, even
as was Jacob and Job, and as have been
multitudes who have found that to be
tor them, which they had regarded as
against them, and who have gained
more than they lost.
Doubtless there is much mental and
spiritual depression arising from merely
imaginary ills. Multitudes worry about
what will never adversely affect them
as they presume it may. They fear that
dreaded evils will come, but their fears
are never realized. Who has not had
occasion to say, "The thing that l
greatly feared has (raot) come upon,
me?" or if it has. there have been
alterations and enioyments Herewith,
such as could not have been foreseen or
imagined. The tasks which at dis
lance seemed stupendous in magnitude,
patient and prayerful effort has been
enabled readily and pleasantly to per-
form. The trials that were portentous-
~ anticipated. in actual contact with
them lose their most forbidding aspects.
their frowns being changed even to
smiles. Never yet has the promise
failed :" As thy days, so shall thy
strength be. Trust in God, therefore,
is always in demand, and borrowing
trouble should never be allowed to
ieopardize all that belongs to hope and
Joy.
Neither should trouble be magnified
any more than imagination. To exag-
gerate it is as reprehensible as to Dor
row it. Many do the one as well as the
other of these forbidden things. They
may have some bitter ingredients in
their cup, but it is not all bitter. Were
all the sweetness extracted they would
see great difference. When in trouble
we should think that there are others
who are worse of than ourselves, and
yet they, pcrchance, are happy and
contented And we need not 90 far to
find those W tn whom we would not ex-
change conditions. A gentleman, some
years ago, said he was walking down
broadway, New York, entirely out Of
business, after having exhausted all
conceivable methods for procuring en-
ptoyment. He had q solitary sixpence
in his pocket, and hunger gnawing at
his vitals. He was in that desperate
mood which may properly be called
partial insanity, and in the fullness of
his woe he was contemplating. suicide.
AS he passed along, collection of peo-
pie gathered about the door of prince
Y mansion diverted his attention.
He said; Il beheld a ..decrepid
old man, bent double with ace. and
so feeble that two ecolored domestics
were, with their united strength, aiding
his trembling and uncertain steps. He
was nearly blind, quite deaf, and
possessed only to limited extent the
faculties of taste and smell. He was
taking his customary morning walk,
hobbling from the door of his dwelling
to the nearest corner 1t was the fa7
nous millionaire, Astor, of Worldwide
reputation as one of the richest men of
his times. thought" said the de-
spending man, that /, with my single
sixpence, was in a glorious situation
compared with that man before me.
and | went my way with a beaming
countenance. and a lightened heart.
thanking Heaven for the health and
strength | then enjoyed, but had de-
spised., / have said he, never de-
SPARED since .
The appeal to all is: tu-
Look at the bright sidel Recount all thy
joys; "-i guy
Speak Of the mercies which richly surround
Muse not forever on that which annoys:
Shut not thine eyes to the beauties around
thee. E EE
Boston HIrLch11an,a