The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-23
Four Blessings.


We do not mean that there are but
four, yea cur blessings ELL earth and air,
and times and eternity, but we have
four which present themselves to every
life.
LOVE is the first. What volumes of
beauty and illustration cluster around
this one word, and they linger like rays
Of light on the evening clouds. What
word so full, so comprehensive, so
radiant with Joy and 50 hallowed in as
sociations as the word Love. Said a
princess, after some experience in the
world-"Oh for an infinite oLject 10 Lore. p
She but uttered the experience of man
kind, for | pity man who has no heart
to love, who mas no lovely traits, and
does not try TO be the embodiment of
love, who does not feel the warmth of
this sacred flame kindle within as he
turns away from nature up TO natures
God and sees every where life and i'm
mortality eleaving the skies.
CONTENMEST.-How the whole human
race longs and labors for this great boon.
What multitudes are seeking it, and yet
how few find it, 1t has been wooed by
the muse of poet and the eioquence of
orators, by the patriotism of the states
man and the herOism of the soldiers, ty
the midnight lamp of the student and
the restless energy of the miser; but
these have all sought in vain. The hu-
man life, like The needle in a compass,
while the ship is driven in the storm, is
ever restless, and it will ever continue
to yacillate and force man, like the vic
Tins in Vathek, to keep his hand upon
his breast and continually say, ''it
burns" until it finds It's way back to
God for he alone is the souls portion.
That man is eontented and he is alone
| who "fears God and keeps his command
ments, for this is the duty of man.
Here is one solid spot amid an ocean of
vexation, of uncertainty, of contradic-
ton and of vanity-and upon it all can
rest their weary feet.
| HEALTH.-This is the soul which ami
mates and seasons every act in life-it
is the light Of the day and the warmth
Of the sun, and he that is without il
finds that youth has no vigor and beauty
no charms, music no sweetness and
society no cordials; and yet what Is
health2 that blessing so priceless that
riches without it are useless and position
burden, and all the world is home
1 itSS fiC5cit anu n OIui
narily it is vitality of body, and yet
how many bodies are physically strong
and yet the home of unsanctified fusiOns
which like smouldering flames are tc
burst with hissings which floods of tear;
will never quench.
| FRIENDs.-But few of us can hope t.
escape days of stormy excitement anc
feelings of profound anxiety. In fac
the relations of life are so far reaching
and its results so unexpected when sum
med up that we naturally survey oul
surroundings in search of a true friend
one whose friendship was not bough
and hence not easily broken, one WHIT
will help our wants and foster our bes
interests. Such are to be found, bu
they are not numerous, and after al
they may not be able to help when W.
most need them. A dying child turned
her sad and CHASTITY face to her fathe
and said, ooh, father, help, for m,
breath is getting short and my room i
growing dark" thousand hearts an,
handi would gladly help, but in TIL
awful vortex Of death, human help can
not go. There is "Jriend which stick
closer than brother" One upon whom
every human head can lean and il
whose presence ali that turn away from
sin can find shelter when the heaven
are dissolving and the earth passing
away.