The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
LiRhts Amid Sh adoW1.

It would be well in life II dlscon'
tented persons would sometimes con-
slider the advantages rather than the dis
advantages of the position they occupy.
The law of compensation is everywhere
The absence of loftiness may give Sc
curity. The want of caoacity may ex-
empt from many anxieties. The lowl1est
and commonest things are needed by
the lordliest. The sunlight needs the
purple hills and the happy flowers to
display its glory. The sea- shore needs the
coral builder. The farmer needs the
stones and worms to ventilate his field.
The Elder Cato said that "fools had
their uses, for wise men learned from
them" Failure has been a blessing
to multitudes. 'I never found my
welfare until I lost it," said good man.
1t is through the failure of the
stamen that you get the secretion OF the
honey; and so many of life's failures
have produced the honey Of love, and
sympathy and kindness. It is sad to
have to say, that not few faces one
meets with bear deep traces of discon-
tent and restlessness. Perhaps nothing.
is more remarkable in the Royal Hospi-
tai for Incurables than the sweetness and
thankful content written legibly on the
faces of its suffering inmates. Harsh,
stern, sour faces are not seen here. The
law of compensation is manifest. Can
it be the fact that so much suffering and
so deep sense of trust, begotten of con-
scious helplessness, are needed in life to
dethrone self, to sweeten our natures, and
to make us more thankful for anything
we have, than discontented because OF
''littles" we have not2
Surely we may find spring of COM
fort in our very disadvantages. The
dullncss of Nicodemus has always
seemed to me to have given the world
large blessing. Your sharp, confident
man would never have asked questions
in the way Nicodemus did. And per-
haps that reply, "God so loved the
world" had never been given to man
confident of his own cleverness. Our
very troubles, and struggles, and doubts
may yet be comfort and help to some
one we otherwise may never have
helped. Even life's wrecks, if properly
illuminated, may yet become beacons
to future mariners. The great lesson OF
life is to know how to be happy, and
how to be satisfied. Labored restless
ness or indolent whining, are life's
curse; to eat, and not be satisfied. The
blessing of life is to- hunger and eat
the bread of truth and righteousness;
not to be without enterprise, not to
glorify dullness, deadness, or stagnation;
but to labor gladly for the best, thankful
for whatever fortune brings. Constant
glad activity, with inner rest, is the true
ideal, finding life's best not in money, or
luxury, but in watching the change OF
seasons, in cloud pictures, in the growth
of bud and blossom, the sweet faces and
hopes of children; finding interest in
helping others who are more lowly and
suffering; taking pleasure in serving
with fidelity; thinking, loving, hoping,
praying, working: these have power to
give true joy, thus taking Christ's yoke
in meekness and lowliness and so finding
rest. It is only such lowly ones as can
truly sing the anthem, "Even 80,
Father, for so it aeemeth good in
thy sight. ."-Rev. r. q. Looell, in un
Quioer.