The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-10-23
Eas Blessings Of Life.


This is good time for meditation. A
good subject for meditation is the bless
ings with which we are surrounded as
a people and as individuals. Though
sometimes it may seem as if the adver-
sites and Affections which fall to our lot
are greater than we can bear, or at least
so great that measure Of complaint is
not unreasonable, If we would pause be-
fore cOndemning or bewailing our situa-
tons in life, and compare the light and
dark sides of our lives, or our own lot,
with that of others, we should be less
hasty to cast reflections.
As people, we are the most favored
upon the earth. Ours is a free country,
and its people are ready to die for the
principles OF liberty, that they may be
secured to their survivors and to pos
terity. But this truth has been too re-
Gently brought to our minds by the cere-
monies of Memorial day to need repe-
tition. We are living to-day in land
made free and preserved to US by the
blood of hundreds of thousands of men
who loved their country.
AS people we are prosperous and
happy. Nature smiles upon the land
and promises bountiful harvest. The
business of the country is in a state of
moderate but substantial prosperity
There has been a decline from the situa-
ton three years ago when everything
was blooming" but this was to be ex-
pected. That the country is on a solid
financial basis is shown by the fact that
the Wall Street furry hardly extended
beyond its limits. The country was not
in condition to be scared at shadow
There have been times in the history of
the Nation when like occurrences would
have resulted in a great panic, followed
by a long season of ''hard times. We
have to be thankful that such was not
the case in the present instance.
Individually, it is for ourselves to re-
feet and consider how much our share
of the blessings of life outweigh the
Affections. If, when we are tempted
to bewail our condition in life or to be-
moan some new trial or adversitv that
has cast lis shadow over us, we would
compare our lots with those of others, we
might see within we are really favored
beyond our neighbOrs. One man
may be richer in the goods Of this world
than another, but the trials of the rich
man may be so great that his posses
sions give him but little comfort. A
man may not be worth much, but he
has less to lose, less to worry about; and
in no country are riches more apt to
take wings than in ours. If man has
not riches, perhaps he has good health;
if so he is far better off than his neigh
Dor who is rich, but would give all his
gold if he were not broken down and
suffering with disease. A man NAV
lose one or more of his faculties; acct
dent or disease may deprive him of the
use of a limb; but every man, if he will
but cast his eyes about him, may find
his fellow-men in worse condition than
he. There is not one in thousand
who, if he would impartially consider
the good and i'll that has befallen him
in the measure of his existence, but
would see and confess that he has much
to be thankful for. We should look on
the bright side. hope for the best, and
never allow ourselves to be discouraged
by real or seeming misfortunes There
is purpose in the ills of life which we
may not see now, but which, neverthe-
less is for our ultimate good.
ton HdUbeye.