The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1893-02-04
Reflections for Family Reading.
Jdnudyu 29k.

January GOTH
1t is said, and We know it to be true
that we never know or fully realize the
value of good health. until the weight
of some kind of affliction is laid upon
ns. When we are feeling we'll
when all the organs are regularly per-
forming their functional duties, as as
signed them by our Creator, we enjoy
the effects without rejecting how de-
pendent we are on his constant and
mercifu attention TO their regular ope-
ration When one falls dead with ap-
poplexy, or from disease of the heart,
or, its failure to perform its ordinary
functions, we behold proofs of what
would result to us if God should SCI
proper to permanently suspend and
destroy any of the necessary fune-
tions of our vital organs. We
can no more control them than
create them. By prudence and
circumspection, (which is a duty we
owe ourselves, and has been made
condition precedent to our enjoy
mcnt of sound healthy we mny hope to
enjoy immunity from the consequences
which usually follow the wilful neglect
or violation Of the laws of health. But
do as we may, we cannot be independent
of Him, who keeps watch over all the
universe of worlds, oven down to see-
seeing the sparrow fall and needing the
cry of the raven To his goodness, mer-
cy and forbearance We are indebted for
every hour of good health; tor every
moment of life.
January 30h.>
Sleep we take to be very much like
death. At least, there are one or two
points of strong resem blauce. While
asleep we are helpless, unconscious
that we live-nnconocious of every
thing that su'Trounds US, and of every
thing that t,ikts place We are not
conscious t. vt the blood circulates or
that we breathe The entire system
lies helpless and exposed to any and
every possible danger. Yet do we lie
down awar.' of what is to follow as to
thsnstate of being, and take it for
granted that the laws of life will con-
time to operate without our conscious
ness, md seldom doubling that when
we shall have slept, We may rise re-
frrshed We seldom reflect that
God alone can gouchsafe such Il re-
suit His long continued vigilance
over, and care for It's, is not taken into
consideration ,s it should he when
VIZ te,itr to sleep. Not everyone
ti,,;,ks, # lat blessing sleep is: nor
OF loA much we .,"e to our Heavenly
Futh.l foi it, When the heart is
weighed down Ivy grief, ahen our
friends prove false when misfortune
ovrrtakes us, when hopes are blighted
or blasted, aud when anxieties and So
licifude for absent, or unfortunate or
diaipaling loved ones oyerwhelm US,
and We lie tossing on our pillows Il
nrey sa cares and sorIoWs-who can es-
innate the value of sleep which
"weighs down our lids, and sleeps our
srnses in temporary forgetfulness ~
How beautiful and a propos the lines
of the past.
"How sweet when weary labors close,
Todraw around an aching breast,
The curtains of repose
Sketch the tired limbs and lay the head
Down on our own delightful bed.
When truth that is and truth that seems,
Mix in fatastiG dreams y
Behold in all this the wisdom, good
ness aud mercy of God and let Us bt
thankful
January 23d.
Upward of five thousand years age
the complicated machinery of the uni
verse of worlds was set in motion
The same sun that rose on us at the
dawn of creation pours his light upon
ne to day. The same moon that then
took up the wondrous tale when tho
"evet,ing shade prevailed at the going
down OF the sun, still sheds her silyery
beams upon US, and both, together
with all the planets and their satel
lites. which then came out upon the
cernlean plains, still move in their des
tined orbits, "and such as creation be-
held them, they are now" Can we
doubt what power overrnles them, and
determines. their courses 2" Can We
doubt what power. what wisdom keeps
them from clashing in their rapid
flights through space9 May it not be
that the millions of smaller stars-the
nebula Of the milky way which we
nightly see when the empyrean ia
clondless, are but the dust that flies
from the wheels of the almighty's char
lot, as He makes his visits to those dis
tant worlds to keep them 10 theii
course We who are in omnipotenl
hands should realize how helpless We
are, aud be grateful that We exist.
February lst
In the present state of our develop
ment it is impossible to say how fal
all of the creation is intended to ad.
vance our happiness, by supplying moi
alone our necessities, but our comforts
as we'll. We see very many things foI
which we see no real use, but on re.
: Election, must concede that God had ar
object in their creation. 1t is not Civ
en- us to understand all that infinite
wisdom has devised, nor can we hope
ever TO be able to do it. All of nat ure
+ wherever displayed, goes to make uE
the university of knowledge, whicl
we must spend eternity in eontempla
ting But whilest we cannot under
stand what Gods purpose was in very
many of his creations, it is not Difficult
to understand enough to insure ou
gratitude for his bountiful bentfcenc'
and liberality. We can readily se'
!, that all nature, (not incomprehensible,
abounds in the means of mans com
fort and happinens. The earth is sn
perabundantly productive-the air il
compounded of elements that supply
our lungs with ife-giging power-th
D ,uators Iikauisa The sheen ia clothed