The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-28
Shifting The Load.
Youth 5 Companion

more pathet.cally than jocose'y re-
marked. "snd the compliment is not
for me eitaer. Bot | tell you right
here" and the lopg, dark hand came
down on the table with sharp empha-
sic. that ] have schooled myself to
think occasionally OF something else
besides tie trouble Immediately al
hand"
"Oh, but that must be with yo1 q
natural faculty, Mr.. Lincoln" the
Presidents companion replied.
Most people sre so constituted that
they cannot do it, The thing that
hurts them IS the only thing they
can consider. It is the insistenca OF
pain. Only here and there can be
found one able to rise above it,"
"There never was more outra-
geous falIacy than that-outrsgcous
because Of the mischief 1t can de-"
seid Mr.. Lincoln.
800, yes" Interrupted the friend,
with a superior smile, "lhat is all
very well, but can you tell the world
how to throw Off trouble, how not to
feel pain?'
IL would like such recipe myself"
was the laughing answer, "but ! was
only speaking of the ability to shift
the load of pain or trouble SO that 1t
might not incapacitate a man from
being of some help and comfort TO
his neighborS. Now, you've no bus
mess to 90 around like black gloved, -,
grim-vissged undertaken. 1t is your
business and mine to consider first
what we can do toward lifting the
loads Of others. y good story is
better than long face, q jolly song
has more get up and get to it than
dirge. The only rule have is TO
try and put myself little in the
rear. | don't say that this is always
easy, but have found this out, that
to ease another's heart-ache Is to
forget ones own. When things get
to squeezing too hard | often find
comfort in this question and answer;
'"Abe Lincoln are you aoing the
best you know how
"And when Abe's reply can truth
fully be, am, please GojP then
the country is safe
A lady whose husband was very
i'll called upon :he famous surgeon,
Sir Morell Mackenzie, who was in
attendance upon the patient.
With many tears and sobs she
begged him to tell her the worst at
once. She knew that the doctor was
sure that he could never recover.
Indeed , she had felt from the first
that he had no hope Of him, and so
on through the whole gaunt Of la
mentation.
"And now, DOCTOR" she concluded,
Il beg of you to tell me the truth
Is there any chance for him?"
HNo," said Sir Mcrell. "The fact
is, your tusbard is being killed not
by inches, but By feet
"Ob, | knew it, knew it," moaned
the lady, "but what is it that is kills
ing hlm7"
His wife," replied the doctor
gravely, "and if l were in his place
should want to get ont of it as quick
ly as possible"
The visitor now dashed the tears
away, and stood in the centre of the
room the very Incarnation Of dignity
and power,
"There, madam - said the great
practitioner with his most courtly
DOW and sweetest smile '.hat is not
your most agreeable expression, but
it is vital and courageous. Take
that back to the sick room, and
when you recover from your indigna:
ton if You will try TO infuse little
hope into it, l think VIC can pull
your husband through. But no skill
can fight successfully against the
chronic depression Of the patient S
nearest aad dearest companion"
"But ny heart has ac5ed go" The
lldy remarked, apologetically, az
Sue hurried sway, possessed now
with a new idea.
MAKE your heart obey your viii
madar," said the doctor, "and your
eyes and your lips and your hand
and remember that an excess {
gvmpathY is a thousand times worst
for a patlent than Indifference"
ELEANOR KIRK
Il New ORLEANS, La, Oct. %, 1889
WIZ. Radam, NJ. X:
SRI cheerfully testify IS t. lh'
1F n ftly q