The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-21
The Demon or Despair.


or all the evil spirits that are prone
to enter in and take possession of the
human heart, none is much more to be
dreaded than the demon of despair.
Have you never yet seen the day.n
wrote one friend to another, "when you
were so near despair that you were ready
to pray that you might lie down and
die 2''.
Never. let no such word as de-
spair into my creed" was the brave
answer-an snswer that seemed doubly
brave to those who knew against what
cruel odds this gentle, sensitive woman
had for years been doing battle. In her
girlhood devoted father had surround
ed her with luxuries, and the early
years of her married life she had been
queen of beautiful home, with ser
wants to do her bidding and carriage
and coachman always at her command.
But sudden changes came. Death left
her childless, and close in the wake of
this sorrow followed financial troubles.
The stately home PASSED into the hands
Of strangers, and before her discouraged
husband could re-establish himself in
business, illness made him for months a
prisoner in the small room where they
lodged.
Then It was that the heroism Of this
woman who all her life had lived in
ease and plenty, sheltered and cared for
Ike a hot-house flower, began to
astonish her friends. A few choice
paintings and books, together with a
portion of her laces and diamonds, had
oeen saved from the general wreck, and,
one by one, she cheerfully sacrificed
these treasures to pay for food and
medicine. At the same time she began
turning to account her skill in the fancy
work that had been her pastime in gun
nier days. and with the products of her
needle kept want at bay until her hus-
band regained his health aud found
work. Ignorant of every kind of house.
hold labor, she soon schooled herself to
the unaccustomed duties, rising at six
In the morning to prepare breakfast,
that her husband might be in time for
his new business hours.
ut is only for a little while,n she
would answer, when he Iamented her
hardships, brighter days are on the
way"
But the days grew darker instead.
TheIe were times when every door Of
Eops seemed shut ana they scarcely
knew where TO turn for means to pay
for the roof that sheltered them. Toll
and privation brought ill-health in their
train, and often the daily tasks had to
be performed with hands SO swollen and
painful that It was torture TO use them,
But through it all this brave soul trust
ed and hoped.
1.-The dear Lord never failed me vet, -
she said TO one who wondered that she
had not broken down under her bur-
dens. Nor will he fail her though the
days be darker still. Seven legions of
devils shall not be able to CONQUER sucb
soul. 1t is only when men let go their
fsith in God that the demon OF despair
overcomes them, for despair is the
bosom friend Of doubt, and when doubt
turns the key, despair makes haste to
enter In, and. once admitted, he tor
lures his victims until self-deslruction
seems their only way of escape.
Continual resignation, L begin to
hnd," wrote Kingsley, sis the secret of
continual strength" and true resigns-
tion is the highest form of faith. the
faith that enables US to tread despair
beneath our feet and to come off "con-
querors, and more than conquerors, -
over Satan himself.