The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-13
LOCAL HOPE AND PATRIOTISM NO. 1

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
"Faith converts the couch o. pain
Into a bed of roses;
For there we moral vigOr gain,
To bear what God disposes."
spin not your faith on others sleeves,
Or trust to luck your fortune.
II You do you are sure to grieve.
And be snubbed when you importance
That which is yours. demand Of right,
Begging seems favor;
Press your claim wi all your might
And, if wrong, of right twill SAVIOR.
"When faith and courage, married;
To bless the bans,
Dame fortune tarried
And rallied all her clans.
To attend the wedding feast,
And left her portion,
With the other gifts bestowed,
And hope was not the least"
A friend of mine the other day met
me on the street aud said: "Things
are coming our way, and I'll be there
with both feet to suck sggs. think I've
learned good un from bad un. 1
know now, and I'll be dad burned if l
don't sit on the top seat at the coming
show" This man was "down," then
''up," now down" and yet he owned,
in fee simple, a bump of hope bigger
than "watahmillyan" with black seeds
and red core. without sny mortgage
on it.
Hope, like the inalienabie rights of
man, can be repressed, but not sold,
mortgaged, pawned, or collateralized,
beyond tho right of redemption. The
gift of the Creator, it lightens toll, tenn
pers misfortune. scatters sunshine, radi-
ateS faces, ,brightens eyes, illumines homes
aud communities, and blesses mankind.
1t don't cost cent, carries no life in
surance. pays no taxes, water rents nor
gas bills, and is property, though intan-
gible and inalienable. Its possessor is
rich; he who hath it not may dwell in
the sight of heaven and yet experience
all the pangs of hell raised to the tenth
power, aye, to such an extent as to
have homestead on the banks of he
river bounding Pluto's wild and drear
abode. This classical allusion slipped
"outen" me unknown, and leave it
rather than mar "pen-picter.
After my CHEEKY friend left me could
not but call to mind Aliller's poem:
"Ali honor to him who wins the prize,
Inc world mas cried for a thousand years:
But 10 him who tries, who fails and dies
There's naught, but pitiable tears
Great Is the man with sword undrawn;
Good the man who refra ms from wine
But the man who fails, and still lights on.
Lo, he Is q twin brother of mine"
"There Is home, a hovel, tenement
in Wichita. in which poverty would
hang its head in abasement, humiliation
and shame, and yet there is hope, good
humor and domestic peace aud real
happiness, three hundred and sixty-fiye
days In the year except leap year. n
This casual street conversation caused
me to indulge in what I denominate a
think" My friend, was almost like the
American in London who was alone with
God and policeman. only he had hope
and God. Busted and full of hope he is
happier than the owner Of the iron
crown of Charlemaggne; richer than a
Union Pacific receiver, and more con-
tented than this Law and Order league
of Wichita.
Rob man of hope, what is left?
"The darkest hour for any man,
Is when hope. from him, has fed.
When he living skeleton
Wishes only he was dead.
Hopes hourly charm floats weary soul
4 en- as cork on the storm tossed sea,
And though the breakers angry roll.
Man Is dauntless, buoyant and free
"God TO fish the bladder gave
10 noat IL on the biliow:
Gave man hope, cen beyond tn eraye
A blessed, and a downy pillow;
hereon to rest. and rise refreshed
To battle with bis fate,
Urged TO do bis best,
Be it-ltttic or be il great
ZoK.