Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-09-29
Second Thoughts.

Roger Hastings was in a fret. 1t
seemed to him that he was very ILL.,
used by fortune. It did not seem so to
his friends. He was young; his health
was good. He lever yet had lacked
food. clothing or any real comfort.
What was it, then, which caused him
to wander out for a walk ut the close
of the day through the bright green
fields, with a frown upon his face and
q feeling of bitter discomfort within his
breast? He was in haste to be rich,
and he could not see the road open to
the qualification of his wish. He had
steady employment; his work was not
too hard for him, and he was we'll
paid. But during his summer vacation
he had been much in the company of
young men who did not have to work
at all, and who yet had plenty of
money to spend. 1t seemed to him
that they had an easy time Of it. and
that they were no moro deserving than
he was.
ut is pretty hard on a fellow he
thought, "to be chained down to a
perpetual grind, when there is so much
to enjoy. And how sordid it seems to
be always counting ones pennies as l
am forced to do! There is Edgar
Hunt; his father gives him money for
the asking; and Charles Arnold gets
q big salary for doing almost nothing;
and Walter Fielding has been promised
q share in a good business just because
he has a rich uncle who takes an in
terest in him; while I, ]uckless chap
that I am, have not Il friend in the
world to help mo on
Roger stopped suddenly. His walk
had brought him to the brink of a
running stream, into which he had al
most plunged before he noticed it.
There were stony shadows in the
stream over which the waters dashed
themselves as they hurried onward.
AS Roger stood watching them his
thoughts took a new direction.
"What a fret you are in, to be sure!'
he said to the little rivulet. At his
splashing and dashing does you nc
good. DO not hurry so. just beyond
you is the smiling calm of the b eauti
full lake. Hold on your course and
you are sure to get there. 1t offers You
plenty of room and perfect rest. Only
be patient
But the saucy stream rushed on,
only laughing at Rogers rebukc and
breaking into shining ripples, as
though it would say:
''Take home your OWL counsel, my
friend! There is a method in my mad
ness; know what I am about. know
what l am about. I know Gods plan
for me. He has ordered all my goings.
My restlessness springs from no dis
position to murmur at his DEGREES or
reluctance to do his will. Can you say
the same?E Just beyond you is 4 vast
etel nifty calm in the breathing of his
presence, gloriously frightened by his
smile. You have only to be patient.
to be faithful and to hold steadily on
your. course. You are sure to get
there. BE. satisfied, then. Be thank
ful. I must cease to be; you will go on
forever. I am but for a season; you
are o living soul. Do not look down
at my devious course. Look up.
Roger, look up! Have you not the
God who created the heavens and the
earth for your friendp What can you
ask for more?' Roger did look up.
Above him was a sea of cloudless blue,
silent, peaceful, serene as the eternal
calm to which his thoughts had been
directed, and the crescent moon, a
trembling line of silvery light. hung
there, giving promise of a radiance
that would increase in splendor night
by night. The discomfort died within
as he gazed. ''F@~@ go"
II have been a fool" he said to
himself. sNKorse than that, I have
been wicked. What right have I to
the high destinyt to which God has call
ed me?. What have I done to deserve
the goodness and mercy which have
followed me all the days of my life?
From this time forward. instead of
fretting for that which God does not
give me, l will try to do all tho good I
can with the opportunities which he
has given me. And, instead of saying
that I have no friend to help me-. l
will take God for my Friend. my Re-
.deemer. my Savior"
And the ripping stream seemed to
say .'Amenr' and 3 thousand voices Of
Nature in the summer twilight broke
into q sudden chorus sto prolong the
echoes: ..Amen!'' ..Amen!' .sAmen!n
-As:s. q. Z. DunAning. IN Foracard.