The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-15
"Kepping the Soul on Top"

The story is told Of little girl who upon
returning from school was asked what the
text had been. She replied, II keep my soul
on: top!" Somewhat surprised to hear such
unfamiliar scripture, her father inquired
where the text could be found. The child
eagerly pointed out the well-known passage
in the writings of the great apostle, in which
little girl had been the wisest philosopher in
the universe she could not have coined
phrase which expresses more exactly the true
sense of the apostles language. Her inter-
probation voices the need Of the century.
The materialism of the age holds, with
grip Of steel, the thought brain and life that
should throb with the invigorating pulse OF
true spiritual culture. Much Of the labor OF
to-day, in the words Of Emerson, is but "a
ter luck" As result men are old,
weary, jc,:'less, when they ought to be
strong, alert, happy. The pressure OF
population upon subsistence renders the
struggle for bread desperate one to many
classes in the community, at disadvantage in
the race of lie. The condition Of thousands
of our fellow-creatures is well described in a
sentence quoted by VIM. Morris from the
writings Of Daniel De Foe: "And the men of
labor spent their strength in daily struggle
for Tread to maintain the vital strength
they labored with so, being in daily circl-
lation of sorrow, living but to work, and
working but to live, as if daily bread were
the only end of a wearlsome life and a
wearisome life the only occasion of daily
bread" Thus habit and necessity combine
to stihe the influences that might 'crimson
our lives with brighter hopes"
But there is something better for all OF US
than to live for pleasure, gain, and physical
well being. Therei is room for meditation at
klo 60 ~ fla bum Al 1aeh
worker. God may be the apex Of his think
ing. and ideals of beauty the heavenly vision
on his pathway in the intervals of toll
ITO keep the soul on top" the spirit upper.
most amid all the cares Of the present-shau
this become a lost art to the mechanic,
farmer, tradesman, merchant. manufacturer
and all other busy workersl 1t costs neither
time nor money to forswear the epicurean
philosophy Of modern times which finds e1-
preston in the debasing sentiment, ITO drift
with every passion, till my soul is stringed
lutte on which all winds can play" If we
look for high things we shall live for high
things. Let O man watch the stars come
out every evening, and he will read
the secret Of his souls peace in the mysteri-
Gus depths of their tranquil light. There is
no aspiration without meditation. The work
ingman who adds good book to his library,
an inexpensive picture to the walls of his
home, q pleasing ornament to his shell, con-
tributes to his own elevation and refinement.
More important still, any man who values
his higher nature cannot neglect to make
religion as taught by Jesus Christ, his friend.
To keep the soul on top requires constant
effort. Try to swim in the atmosphere OF
celestial aspiration, and momentary sus-
pension of strokes means descent to lower
and lower areas of endeavor. Refuse the
aid of the Divine Spirit in seeking to live for
noble ends, and free progress in righteous
ness is checked by a thousand obstacles.
A friend outside the city showed me his silo.
q few days since crammed with grass and
clover slowly sinking beneath platform
loaded with heavy stones until it should pos
sess the requisite consistency. Out from
under the blue sky and bright sun the green
blades had been brought to the semi
darkness of the dusty barn. Thus do many
of us confne our souls between
walls of habit four-square, and to them at
tach tho stones of earthiness, choosing dark
ness in place of light, the downward instead
Of the upward destiny Surely it were bet
ter to keep the soul on topl In trouble,
temptation, sickness, calamity, there is ever
a window fronting the sky in this frail tene-
ment of the body. The light that shines
through it will never grow dim. for it is q
fragment of the rainbow of Gods love that
arches eternity. The version Of revelation
that blundered upon the lips Of the child con-
tains the deepest and most abiding truth OF
the universe, to wit that man only lives
when all his thoughts and purposes are sub
ordinated to the eternal interests Of the soul
in which the spark Of divinity kindles the
fame Of religious hope-[Rev. +. S. Root