Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-06
CHOICE EXCERPTS.

L
IT is most mortifying reflection fOI
any man to consider what he has done,
compared with what he he might have
done.
PARENTS who are ignorant of their
duty will be taught by the misconduct
of their children what they ought to have
done.
WE make winter the symbol of old
age and de lth; as if old age were never
kindly; as if there were anyteing dis
creditabIe in death, or nobody had ever
longed for IL.
WE should choose our friends for what
they are, not for what they have, and We
should always have them with us-pre-
$ rived in absence, and even after death,
in "amber OF memory"
A SPANISH proverb says: "a little in
the morning is enough; enough at din
ner is but little; bat little at night
may be too much" Remember this, and
save indigestion and sleepless nights.
CAST forth thy act, thy word into the
verifying, ever working universe; it is
d seed grain that cannot die. Unnoticed
TO- day, it will be found fourishing as a
oanyan grove-perhal s, alasl as hem
lock forest-after a thousand years.
We are led to the lie itf of future
state, not only by the weakness, by the
af hr,
by the noblest and best principles which
belong to it-by the love of virtue. and
by adherence of vice and injustice.
You will find. if you think for mo-
ment, that the people who influence you
IRE people who believe in you. In an
atmosphere of suspicion men shrivel
up; but in that atmosphere they expand.
and find encouragement, and educative
fellowship.
To be longing for this thing to-day and
for tn at thing o-mOrrow; to change lik-
ings for loathings, and to stand wishing
and hankeiing at a venture-how is II
possible for any man to be at rest in
this fiuctuant, wandering humor and
OplulOH!
The difficulties and trials we encoun-
ter in life, and the weakness found il
our character, wage against us a form OF
warfare. These are enemies that must
be braved and vanquiished upon theii
own ground. The advantage Is all our
own seeking the conflict; it is theirs il
We decline it.
THE most agreeable of all companions
is simple, frank man, without any
high pretensions to an oppressive great
ness; one who loves life, and under
stands the use of it; obliging, alike at
all hours; above all, of a golden temper
and steadfast as an anchor. For such a
one.we gladly exchange the greatest ge
Mus, the most brilliant wit, the profound
est thinker.
THERE is not more pleasing exer
else of the mind than gratitude. 1t is
accompanied with such inward satisfac-
ton, that the duty is sufficiently re-
warded by the performance. 1t is not
like the practice of many other virtues
difficult and painful, but attended witt
so much PLEASURE, that were there Dt
positive command which enjUined it,nol
any recompense laid up for it hereafter
a generous mind would indulge in it for
the natural qualification that accompa
nj, s it.
"HoME," says Robertson, in his Ser
mons, sis the one place in all this world
where hearts are sure of each other
1t is the place of confidence. 1t is tht
place where we tear off that mask OF
guarded and suspicious coldness which
the world forces us to wear in self de
fence, where we pour out the unreserveC
communication of full and confiding
hearts. 1t is the spot where expressions
of tenderness guSh out without any
sensation of awkwardness, and without
any dread of ridicule. Let man trave
where he will, home is the place to which
his heart untrammelled fondly turns.
He is to double all pleasure there. HI
is to divide all pain. A happy home i;
the single spot of rest which a man ha:
upon this earth for the cultivation o.
his noblest sensibilities.'
WHEN man tells you that he sal
ways takes things easy" and "never put
himself out of the way for anything O
anybody" set him down in your menta
memorandum book as chronic laZines
and selfishness. Such easy-going indi
viduals never win either fortune O
fame. They may call their indifference
independence; but, if so, they make
miserable mistake. Real independence
is the offspring of we'll directed energy
and the philosophy of Incidence" il
nothing better than a mean and con
temptible sophistry. God himself ha
vetoed Incidence; Whatsoever thy han'
fndeth to do, do it with all thy might,
, is the vigorous languarge of inspiration
Latent talent is of no more use than lat
I ent heat. Both must be developed ant
i applied in order to be of any practica
q value. No man can be even a tru
Christian without energy; and, if W
were required to put the whole duty O
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