The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-11
DiacOuragsmsns
Philadelphia Ledger.

{ PhiladelpAia LedgerJ
i A very large proportion Of the suffer
: ing that afiicfs mankind proceeds froE
the simple feeling of diseouragement
: The little child, playing with bis blocks
! attempts TO erect an impossible stTug
ture, and, after a few fruitless efforts
throws them down, unhappy or angfl
. at its failure. A few years later he i
struggling with a task of study or o
work, and, falling to master it. be. i
cherries aud depressed. The cage
youth, full of enthusiasm, starts on s
career in which he means 10 distinguish
himself and benefit Others. He meet,
with unexpected opposition, unkind re
butts, formidable obstacles, and disap-
pointment embitters his heart. The re.
former, full of plans to rectify some
evil, is distressed at the indifference be
meets with, and despairs of the worlds
prgress. The statesman, radiant at some
triumph of political principle on which
he bad built hopes of immediate ma
tiona1 welfare, is disheartened to find
that, after all, the results are compare
lively Insignificant The parent, stak-
ing all his hopes upon a son for whom
he has labored and sacrificed, is crushed
by finding that son following other
paths, and frustrating his cherished de
sires. They are, too, the petty discour-
agements of daily life, which we all en-
dure, and which, though we may brave
iy thrust aside, are wearing to the nerves
and depressing TO the spirits.
Besides the misery which discourage
ment inficts, there is the palsying effect
1t exerts on all human effort. As long
as hope reigns in the heart no work
seems too hard, no exertion too great;
it is when hope sinks away and despon-
dency takes its place that labor of head
or hand languishes. Probably more of
the idleness and thriftlessness of the
unfortunate, and the 'inertness and Ian
guor of others, comes from repeated dis
couragements, draining away hope and
energy, than from any other single |
cause. 1t is true that inaction and use
lessness come also from other causes
There are people who are never dis
cOuraged, because they never have warm /
desires or put forth earnest efforts. Yet |
these are excy ptions. Most of US are.
swayed alternately by the opposite feel
ings of hope and discouragement, and
as the former incites our powers. to
action, the latter benumbs and paralyzes
them.
What is the origin of an element so
injurious TO humanity? Has it basis
in truth, or is it mainly due to the i'm I
perfection of our insight into life? One
thing is certain--those who have the
most real cause for discouragement are
Just those who are the least susceptible
10 it. People Who are thoroughly self
or lethargic or cold, who are
unambitioas for themselves and unin-
terested ia others, who care pnt slittlef
for their own improvement or for the
of the community, suffer II
but little from, encouragement for they /
have but little to hope TOR. Yet, ofiall
persons, they have the truest cause for
discouragement,f for there is no prospect !,
Of their ever becoming either happy or
So thoroughly selfish people, t,
active only 80 far as a narrow view of
welfare suggests, have. good I,
reason for encouragement, for prosper
ity OF any kind has no sureF foe thanl
;elfishness, The apparent success of
such desires only involves more ex- t
tensiEe failure, ra yfea,, /:
Activity; however, in right directions, L
Ind pursued with ordinary intelligence, k
mas no just cause for encouragement, |
ior 1t carries with it the the elements of I
yoOd. This is one of the truths that we /
nay, trust, even when We. cannot see its 1
working. For instance, we are eager n
Ind anxious to promote good cause;
We give to it our energy. our thought, !
,ur time, our money. We look for |
'peedy and decided results, and if they |
10 not appear we are discouraged and I
hink our efforts have been wasted. The |
ruth is, that all real progress is slow. I
sudden jerks give backward impetus
Ind but little eventual gain. The les
ons learned in youth and seemingly for {
rotten bear fruit in maturity. The c
struggles to do right that seem so hard I
md so often ineffective are steadily a
eading to the state where right doing |
S pleasure. The efforts we make for {
my worthy object may not seem sue |
,essful to-day or tomorrow, but they !
ire part of the grand work that is GO )
ng on slowly but surely, and no one of {
hem can we afford to lose. 5
The good that we hope for may not /
,eme in the way We expect, yet it may q
,ome Our plans may fail, while that t
or which we laid our plans is prosper c
ng. Many a good cause gains. steadily K
While those who are pushing it forward n
hink it is losing ground. Their partic-. g
liar methods may not succeed, but the d
pirit which prompts them is spreading i
Ibroad, inspiring new efforts and. ad-
7anciHg the work. Whoever desires
md works for what is good and true has !
10 cause for discouragemeut,7 for he is I
m the winning side. Even when his
chemes appear to fail, and his parposes
ire frustrated, his earnest loyalty to the I
.ause is one enduring element of its sue z
less. 1t is only if we are enlisting our
.nergies in favor what is wrong, if we I d
ire working for low or selfish ends, or Z
f We are idly Withholding our hand and Il
leart from noble effort, that we have {
my real reason to be discouraged. q
Laurel crowns eleave to deserts,
And power to him who power exertsR
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