Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-02-13
Never Despair.

w uelIler Ill llle mluSJ Oh dIlllCtlOIlS
decreed by Providence, or beset by
troubles of our own conjuring, we
cannot find or have a better MIDLOTHIAN
"never despair" He who confronts
obstacles and calamities with the
spirit of this motto in his soul, can
never be wholly overcome. A thou
sand plaguingshapes fly the faceofper-
sistent courage, which drive the timid
to wretchedness and death. Despair
remedies no ill, rights no wrong, eases
no burthen. The recorded lessons of
human experience are ample to show
the folly Of despairing. The story of
Bruce in prison, sick at heart and
well-nigh hopeless for himselfand his
country, until he saw spider in his
cell return again and again in fruitless
attempt to spin its web to a desired
point when finally, as the fit reward
of an undaunted will, it succeeded in
its obiect-this touching story, Incl
dent of which liberated a nation and
gave crown to a hero, is an inspira-
ton to never despair.
Suppose Columbus had despaired
under the ridicule of courtiers and
the reflections of kings, or when mu-
tiny threatened to cut short his career,
"a continent might have remained
undiscovered for centuries longer, and
perhaps forever. Suppose Washing
ton had despaired under the storm of
the Revolution, when even the BRAY
est might have found seeming war
rant for despair, our projected indie
pendence would doubtless have been
trampled in the dust. And so of
many immortal names of men who
have stood forth and gone forth to
vindicate the rights, and promote the
welfare of the human race. All the
greatarmy ofdiscOverers and develop
ers, who have suffered for truth and
knowledge, in dungeons or at the
stake-darknesS and woe to the
world, had all these despaired when
peril Of life stared them in the face
1t was just at that point where half.
breed heroes despair, that the great
heroes began their grandest triumphs
The Romans had not yet learned t.
despair, when the all-conquerine
Hannibal hundred down the gorge;
of the Alps. Rome might be desola
ted, but she should be undespaireC
of while a Roman survived. This
spirit has saved and founded States
has won victories in the very jaws o
defeat. This spirit ruled the three
hundred who made Thermopyla
glOrious-was with Tell when thu
tyrant's host paved the way to thu
Switzers' freedom. 1t was the spiri
Of "never despair" that formed thu
4 first forlorn hope, and that will neve
cease to stand in the breach wher,
, the noblest causes are redeemed anC
the noblest triumphs won.
How many yield to pitiful obstacle
2 and petty glooms. How many
4 whose instincts are to despondenc,
e while there are sources of cheer lef
how many, who despair withou
e an appeal to hope. Do these know
s the proverbs, founded in wisdom
t sit is always darkest just before day
S -"there is no night without morn
= ing"-"there's silver lining to ever,
: cloud"-"wait and the storm viii
pass''-"no ill ever was, but Their
d may be one greater" trust in Go,
doing your duty, and fear not tn
e worstw 1t is not only cowardly,
i is wicked, to despair. While Their
e is life there is hope, and woe unit
|, him who plucks out his life as
refuge from despair.