The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-02
THE HELPING HAND.

Tonight, as midnight comes on apace the rain falls and the December wind howls its wild caEousal dirges as on il goes in it's radical work of restoring an equilibrium. The night is one of elm merian darkness as the weeks goes out, riding on storm. But the week goes out and the storm bears it on all the same. But what of the darkness There have been millions of storms aud millions of bright days following-and time is yet in its infancy! We know that the morn will come, because that is what morning is for. That if the storm has not passed by morning it will be nearer passed away than now, and we will have less time to wait.
 Looking out ofthe window and looking up we see no sky-yet the sky is up there, all the same. Looking down we cannot see the earth, the soil of the street below us, yet we know the street IS there be- cause but 2 few hours since we walked it.
 Looking out and away to the right, to left on ahead, we can see hundreds of lights glimmering, each doing all it can to dispel the gloom aud enable those whO "oAA " SSS "ASAS tO Piohb buOI steps.
 How like the look-back over life. Much of darkness, yet many beautiful spots of light. Every good act is like a star in the sky. Every life thus unlit by good deeds, kind acts, pleasant words is like sea, night of darkness. The more stars in the sky the more beautiful are the heavens.
 When God said Let there be light" He meant a great deal more than people think for till they stop to think, as we do night after night and day after day, while others live and move slowly and pass away without thinking.
 He meant that lives should be illumi- mated by good acts and great big thoughts of lberality.
 That kind words should be spoken more, more. more aud still more till they reach into lives aud hearts wherein are pain-clouds and gloom-clouds and care clouds, and bruises left over from yester- days neglect.
 He meant that while He was arranging to let the light of heaven upon a dark world and into a darker humanity, that men should strive to make his fellow man as happy, as ligh,-hearted as possible.
 That we should all do everything in our power to dispel gloom-to lift care to light the way for hearts as men light the way for those who walk the streets.
 Bless the ones who make light. Bless all those who stud their lives with the kind, the good, the mellow, the forgiv- ing, the considerate, the helping, the broadening, the uplifting of acts of hu- manity, for they shall see God and know what life is for, and sweet it is to those who have the courage to live 1t correctly, bearing with human weakness, overlook ing human imperfections, but ever striv- ing to make light and to bless.
 A few hours since we were in the home of one of the richest men we ever met A few years ago, all of his business props were knocked from under him and down he came flat, under the hammer of the sheriff. His home and its gathering of beautiful contents was taken from him. His friends disappeared, as go loafers from free lunch when the table is cleared, or as goes hog from 6 trough when it has toothed out the last kernel.
 Then down went the man in dispair, darkness, disconsolateness and delirium. Those who had oft filled their pockets and stomachs at his expense turned against him. Those who were them selves dishonest said that he was swind- Ter. Those who lacked good sense said that he was fool. Those who lacked that which Christ had SO much of and that covereth such multitude of sins, said that the man deserved a fall be- cause he had not steeled his heart and lived only to gain property.
 One day man came along and had a talk with the one who had failed. He kindied light before him. He told him to rely upon himself and not others. To accept his lessons but not to accept dark ness or despair. That he could as well start from the mile post of to-day as the one twenty years back. That all any man could ask for was a starting point and then for courage. He talked to the man till he spread light all about him, till he filled his soul with the spirit of courage. Till he felt thankful over his losses and more than thankful over what he had fouad, through the help of hand that sped light across his path.
 Now he is on the up-track and making good headway. He has plenty at ac- quaintances but few friends, and his best friend is himself. Next is his gosd, low ing helpmate of wife to whom he is care, love, courage, kindness, and all that noble man can give to a true woman His home is one of comfort. He turns no poor from his door, except they are dissipators and wasters of what God gave them and man gives them. His feet are firmly under him, and he is full of thankfulness to the God-like man who kindled light, who breathed courage to try again, and who reached out the help. ing hand, by which we stud over our own lives with stars and kindle beacon lights that prove that we are making the way along the great road that leads direct to the Golden Gardens in the star.lit Eternal, which at best is but a few more Satur- day nights away, and which will be reached by all who love and help their fellow.men