Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-08-02
vs. ~ GOLDSBORO N. c.. THURSDAY AUGUST q 1894

he faced a grave danger. There
was death in the air. The bull
let's were flying fast and he gave
up all hope of seeing home
again. But with danger came
opportunity. That opportunity
acted upon him like magic. A
farmers boy no longer, he sud
denly became a hero, as though
some fairy had swung her wand
over his head. He was larger
in soul than he ever dreamed of
becoming, went into the thick of
the fight and unflinchingly did
deeds of prowess. When the
shadows of evening fell and the
bloody work was over he had a
captains straps en- his shoulders
and was by no means the same
man who left the plough in the
furrow to follow the tap of the
drum. Opportunity is another
name for metempsychosis, for
there are times when we shed
the commonplace and become
Knights of the Round Table. Q
But we can endure as we'll as
do when we must. No one knows
how much he can bear until he
is tried. Providence has made
life hard because every man
needs the test of fire. Why this
is so it might be difficult to say,
but that it is so no one can doubt.
We are drowsy until some earth
quake shock shakes us, and then
we become men. Ill fortune is
spiritually worth more than what
we call good fortune. The rich
mans son is apt to slide down
hill, while the poor mans boy
climbs to the top. If you have
all you want your life is without
value. If you have nothing
that you want the desire to
get the best there is a trans
figuring influence, though it
involves sacrifice and tragedy.
You are content, and your
home is a happy one. Wife and
child sit at your winter freside
and you contemplate your sur
roundings with grateful satisfac-
ton. The sky is blue for you
and the sun sets in beauty. But
you recognize the fact that there
are storms to be met, and though
you have had immunity thus far
you know that it cannot last for.
ever. There are burdens to be
borne, and you must fit your
shoulders to some of them.
When you think of what may
possibly happen the tears come
to your eyes. Your income may
take to itself wings and speed
away, leaving you to sit in the
ashes of bankruptcy. That seems
hard enough, yet you have ;
feeling that you can bear it if i
is inevitable But when a white
hearse rumbles by your dool
you know that some father:
heart is breaking, and it come:
to you that a like disaster may
visit you. Life is so uncertain
and death is apparently SO ca
, pricious. If he should look int
the eyes of your little one h
might want him. Death pluck
little. flowers for the gar, IN o
God, and if he should plucl
your flower, the only one yo,
have, mayhap, what would yol
do, what could you do? Yol
fall upon prayer that no whit,
hearse may ever stop at you
door. Your life would go ou
like ain extinguished candle
There would be nothing left
That misfortune you cannot bear
Anything else, but not that. yo'
say-so haye said many, and the
they have wept because tn
prayer was not answered.
| Then death steals into you
house unawares and your fiowe
is gone. Are your shoulder
broad enough for that heav
weight? You will sink under
and lie down by the side of tn
child in the same grave. Nc
not that. because las thy days
so shall thy strength be- Whe
the time comes you find larger er
durance OF. the soul than yo
have credited yourself with, ant
though the future days may b
gray days and the, sun neve
shine in quite the old way, 20
can bear the sorrow; you do bes
| it with fortitude borrowed frol
( the angels.
Each depends on your faitl
No soul that looks at heaven ca
be crushed by anything ths
happens on the earth. Once g
/ a glimpse of the future, ono
: see the boy in the garments {
the immortals and though yo,
heart breaks you would not ca
him back. It is faith that light
t ems our load while doubt double
t its weight, One glance at CO.
and fate can do you no furtht
, harm.