The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-07-25

good results which she achieves amOns
mankind, more than Overbalances all the
evils arising from her deceptions.
1t is sometimes remarked by people
while contemplating the misfortune of a
fellow human being: ''Oh. what pity! he
is utterly without hope" That there is no
truth whatever in such an assertion l will
endeavor to prove by few illustrations. in
which it can be seen that Hope is ever
welding her warfare against the machina-
tions of despair. and Oftimes succeeds jn
turning the wOuld-be slayer of oneself from
the narrowing scenes of gloom and death.
into the sun-lighted channels of active life,
and all Of its fond expectations of future
events.
Hope is everywhere. She administers
consolation to King and Pauper; to lnfidel
and Christian; to Heather and Skeptic,
without discrimination. To the nun pray
ing or meditating in the seclusiOn of clois-
ter Hope says, Only few more years and
your monotonous life will have terminated.
Then you shall dwell for all eternity in the
realm of the blest. where the melOdious
voices of saints and angels will ever regale
your ears, and scenes such as earth has
never witnessed will be ever presenting
themselves to your enraptured gaze" 10
| the monk counting his beads in the seclud-
ed silence of a monastery she says. Meek
and lOwly penitent, the flames OF purgatOry
OF hell shall never torment you, for your
voluntary penance here below eXemptS
you: but instead, you shall enter that abode
of endless felicity to which every pure and
upright man Is heir" TO the priest, sitting
in his quiet retreat deploring the actions of
luke warm christians, the backsliders, and
of isl, 10 ssCno2 and
faithful servant of my Master. do not grow
despondent but persevere in thy holy call
ing and you shall be rewarded in the world
to come by seeing them all on the judg-
ment day, skeptics, perchance, with the
rest marching in one grand procession,
lauding your name in the highest terms of
gratitude for directing them to the road
that led them to that sphere of everlasting
peace and rest" TO the intidel SpinOza,
who was driven from his Hebrew relatives
and friends because he would not accept
the doctrine of his parental religion; to
Cervantes, sitting in his studio. culling
from the vista Of past ages such parts of
the sayings and doctrines of religion and
ancient lore as would stand the test of his
impartial Judgement as truths and casting
the remainder out as the germs of mans
Imagination; to Luther, who revOlted
against the cruelties OF the Inqusition of
the church of his early days by exposing
them to the world with pen and tongue.
hope said, "Brave refOrmers OF a corrupt
ed age, heed not the SCOTS and ridicule, of
ignorance and bigOtry but continue to nur-
ture the plant of liberty and truth which
you have SO heroically planted, and long
ere another century passes, it will have
grown into sturdy tree spreading it's
branches Of light and reason, not only over
this small spot OF the eastern hemisphere,
upon which you live, but from one end of
this vast universe to the other"
To the heathen. going forth to fight with
some bellgerent tribe or band Hope says,
BE brave, and fight like warrior, and
should you be slain in battle your spirit
shall go to the great hunting ground be-
yOnd the moon. where you will meet
your father and your fathers father
roaming in forests. through which
beautiful streams are ever meandering
their labyrinthine way between tree
lined banks teaming with musical game"
TO the Skeptic, who is constantly suffering
under the lashes of conflicting ideas ema
mating from the teachings OF nfideIity and
christianity she says, although thou art
the most miserable of all the human fami-
lies, yet. shall endeavOr to console you to
your terrible predicament by telling you
that. should you fail to enter the christians
heaven, you shall. at least, be permitted to
occupy quarters in the infidels' goal. where
decay and rot shall caress your ObliviOus
carcass for evermOre." To the mighty
monarch involved in the intricaces of finan-
cial ruin, and usurpatiOn; to the great gen.
eral, like Wellington at Waterloo, in battle