The Russellville Democrat., 1893-08-24
Disapnointments of Life.

Disappointments of Life. fDeiivered by R. E. Doggett before the Ep- worth League August i8 Published by special requesLl
 If we examine the world in which we 1 live we will everywhere discover variety, changeabIeness and succession. Here we see plains rise into mountains, there we sec hills sink into valleys. Here we see well watered streams, there we sec dry and barren sands. We rejoice in the light, but soon we are enyeioped in darkness We hail the Ioyliness of spring and the approach of summer, soon the agreeable months pass away, and the north polrs down the desoiation of win ter. Equally checkered and varied Is human life. Our conditions, our rela- ti0ns, our circumstances are perpetually changing. The christians say T would not live alway.s He reflects upon it, when the world smiles, as well as when l it frowns. Whatever be his present condition or circumstances, he confesse5 himself to be stranger and pilgrim on the earth. His inheritance is beyond. But it is more difficult to maintain this state of mind in pleasing and prosperous circumstances than in trying and dis dressing scenes It was a wise reflection of Charles V to the Duke of Venice when he showed him treasury of St. Mark and the glories of his princely palace, instead of admiring them he said s'these are things that make men loath to die" When everything Is agreeable in our condition we think of adorning not of leaving, of pulling down our barns and building greater, not of contracting all into the narrow limits of the grave. but often when we are in prosperous cir cumstanees and have much goods laid up for many days" we do not think of 1 the future. 'sJeshu waxed fat and kick ed.r and even David, after having pass ed through most trying scenes, the ease which succeeded seemed to have obIiter- ated them from his memory, and his 1 hopes became earthly and rash. The comforts, riches and everything we here enjoy, may pass away and We are aware of it. Job said q will die in my nest.n But while he spake the storm WITS rising which would tear down his nest and lodge it's contents on the dunghill. In l few hours he was deprived of all. One messenger announced the loss of hIs cat 1 tie, another the destruction of his ser wants and the third the death of his children. His health was converted in- | to loathsomeness and disease, and while his head was bare to the pelting Of the pittiless storm, his friends read to him lectures of hypocrisy, and inti- mated that the sins in which he had l privately engaged had found him out. l We are not secure from the disappoint- ments of anything that we enjoy. The blessing of health which is necessary to our relishing every other enjoyment, how | precious is it's continuance. Upon how many delicate and combined causes does | 1t dependr How easy may some of them become deranged? We are not secure from the disappointments with regard to friendship. How many of our friends have dropped us already How | small is the number who will abide the day of trial? Some of them who are now fawning around us under change of circumstances would not even know us. They leave the garden in winter, there is nothing in it to gather. The flower that they put in their bosom as soon as it has exhaled it's perfume is is thrown without in the dirt, The scaf- folding is of no use when the bnilding is completed. 1t is soon laid out of sight. We are not secure from disappointments in regard our property, Where can we lay up our treasures. Water inundates,
 
 rupt, and thieves break through and steal" Riches take to themselves wings and fly awayn Appearances may be favorable, plans we'll ideyery assistance nessessary may be furnished, but the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong" Neither yet bread to the wise, nor riches to the man of understanding, nor yet favor to the man of skill, but time and chance happeneth to them all. We are not secure from disappointments in our children. The forebodings of the parental mind is fond and fiattering The father had looked forward and promised himself an entertaining com panion, one upon whom he could lean when old age and decrepitude had stolen its stealthy march upon him, but behold the care and expense of few years laid the boy in the grave. See Rachel, she has been laying aside the little garments her busy hands had wrought and put ting out of sight the toy which lately charmed and delighted her, and weep ing for her children, refused to be com forted because they were not We are not secure from disappoints with refer ence to our hopes and ambition. When young we look forward to bright fu- ture. When young light is in our eye, and our bosom heayes with fond antici- patton. When youth speaks by the leaping blood that rides our pulse and plants it's banner upon our cheek and brow, 'tis then we look to some niche in | the spire of fame to which we hope to | reach, but suddenly some misfortune | or indiscretion overtakes Us and we fall. 1 "The star that sets shall rise again, but | that which falls is lost forever" We are | insecure from the disappointments of | life. What is lifey A flower of the field, | flood, a sleep, a dream, a tale, noth- | ingl What is lifey Foil and care, per- plexity and embarrassment, succession of sighs and tears, of regrets and dis | gusts, a theatre of disease, wilder ness of thorns and briars, dry and thirsty land where no water Is Such | is the estimate of human life. Life is eqnally distinguished by brevity and calamity, and since our days are so evil, it Is we'll they are so few.
 They'll wait us sooner OCT,
 This life's tempestuous sea;
 So on shall we reach the peaceful shore
 Of blessed eternity
 "Where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.n What man is he who would immortalize evil and extend life so wisely reduced to span to ages
 To ages ina world of pain,
 To ages where he goes,
 Called by misfortune's heavy chain
 And hopeless Of repose.
 Whence has this worldits magic powerY
 Why deem we death foeg
 Recoil from weary lifes best hour
 And court longer woe.
 Our life contains thousand springs
 We die if one be gone; strings
 Strange that harp of a thousand
 Should keep in tune so long.
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