The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-16
PLACING d LADDER.

0Sfck koWetoy, m GnWe0 StAteS OcmoCf1tI
 Nearer my God to Thee," sang the poet. How sweet the thouehti Another ~eek nearer to the rest that awaits the body and the reward that will come to the mental or that which IS immortal. One more hill climbed as we pass along toward the depot of death where We shall all change cars and step from labor to refreshment. One week more of seed sowing one week less between us and the better heaven that is just over the line The better heaven. This life is a heaven as we make 1t SO, The better heaven is the one beyond. Six days of care, thought, labor, difficulties en- countered and triumphs over all Six days oi labor passed, and during all this little ot Wondroas eternal time, not an any person or thing. Not a feeling of envy-a thought of fretting. Truly life ii blessed, even as 1t is heaven it we but stand with our heads straight ts the storm, which faced, cries in anger and speeds on in shame.
 "What have you plantedS" we heard colored man ask of another. who stood in garden this Saturday night, as we came home, to the dearest, the best, the safest spot on eaish-home.
 What have ve all planted2 Let us see. Comfort in the soul of poor old woman who came to our office com plain;ng that her rich relatives had no thought of her in her old age and in sickness. She went away happy and looking at things by different light. Hope to a struggling man who, because he is independent, is not wanted in posi- tion as are those who are adepts at Aat- tery and fawning. He went out with a brighter eyeand lighter heart. Another person came to ask favor, the grating of which was easier than is the asking of any favor-that is, where the peti- tioner is not a case-hardened, profes. sional mendicant. Hope, help, strength, comfort sunshine, courage, happiness, contentment and directions to manhood and usefulness, all these have we given during the week. Not one person wronged, not a right tIampled on, no, even a pang or a sorrow brought to cloud the life of any one within the home circle. Thus we strive to live, to act, to SOW for the future, and thus here is happiness and home is heaven.
 Coming along toward home tonight. we saw man entering building by means of ladder placed SO that its top reached lower window than the several above 1t. How like the way some people are content to enter the other and the higher life. By lower window. Why not set. the ladder so as to reach the story higher, or get another ladder and strive to enter in upon the upper floor. We all enter the house of many mansions ex. actly as we set our ladders. If we get down low enough we enter the sub-cellar, the basement, the ground floor, or the chambers, the upper floors from which the view is better and the air purer
 We saw two boys on the street. Lads hardly in their teens. One was dirty and smoking a stub of an old cigai, the other was using coarse, vulgar, profane lam guage. Two boys entering this life by a lower door, content to grope around in the cellar in the dirt and the dark, possi- bly wondering as they grow up why men of ambition, of enterprise, of progressive thought do not wish them in their em- ploy wondering why they do not receive impressions, called inspirations, from those who live in the upper stories.
 We overlook another lad who was list ening to one who urged him to steal away and to have some fun.
 No, must go home, as wish to be in good trim for the morrow" was the reply, as the bright, manly little fello v excused himself and has,eued on. That boy has his ladder planted to enter higher window, and the higher 1t is the l C., .3A sk ~t Al L dig under foundations.
 Passing the door of saloon we saw once brave, proud, handsome man, sneaking out and with stagger starting away. Ten years ago, that man stood among the most influential in this city. Friends by the hundreds. Wealth in plenty. He selected his companion, the enticing demon clad in the attractive garb of moderate drink. We have seen laborers in the field and wrestlers in the ring lay of one after another of articles of clothing, till at last they stood almost naked to the work. Sc, too, could we see that the demon of drink had, after grasping the hand of this man in friendly way, finding him somewhat proud and stubborn, taken of his outside ward robe, his mint, sugar, etc, and came down to a naked contest till now he was leading his we'll whipped prisoner down the ladder instead of up. And oh the weariness of the climb to retrace steps to a good starting point. And the time, strength, talent, ability, opportunities lost. Is it not pitiful-the weakpess of men who have not the mental courage to be strong2 Is it not pitiful to see men throw their lives into dregs, claiming that manhood consists in daring to work f,r ones own ruin5 Is it not sad, that % many who have br aims will be content to raise only short ladders; to enter the heaven reaching mansion by the lower windows, when there is clean pathway to the ever open door and a winding stairway that is broad and beautiful, iead- ing up, up, up to the atmosphere Of har- mony, happiness, heaven.
 Tonight we sit thinking and writing.