The Bossier banner., 1894-07-12
The Discipline of Life.
rom the New York Herald

Why we are so constituted that
nobility of character can only be at
tanned through the discipline of sor-
row is as yet an unsolved problem.
That We must needs travel over the
corduroy road of difficulty, successive
obrtacles, harsh circumstance and
continuous effort if we would reach
the gate of Paradise or fit ourselves
to cross its threshold is the moral
puzzle of the universe.
In our unwisdom we think the
macadamized and level highway a
better means of progress, and are as
founded when told that smooth roads
make small men.
He who would get a glimpse of the
widest landscape must climb the hill
from which alone it can be seen.-
That is the first law in the statute
book of Providence.
The night is grewsome and lonely.
but half the universe is yelled from
him who has not seen the stars as
well as the sun, and darkness alone
can render them visible.
This, too, is the law.-namely, that
you must sit amid the shadows of
night if you would see the heavens
at their best.
You cannot get music from the
cello with loose strings. They must
be stretched, and if they could, they
would cry out with pain, but the
stretching until concert pitch is reach
ed is what gives the musician an in,
strument worthy of his skill
A large fortune is the worst acci-
dent that can befall a youth, for his
temptations are stronger than his
ambitions. The boy with money in
herited from his father, and, therefore,
with nothing to work for, is already
half conquered by evil passions. The
youth with high heart and whole
some poverty receives his Inheritance
from God, and Gods gifts are better
than mans.
Gods denials are the best part of
His providence. He gives nothing
without its price, and that price is
toll. We find fault at first, but later
on discover that what is worth having
is worth working for; that work gives
dignity to the soul and is the equiva-
lent OF education.
That is the secret of omniscience
which we find It hardest to learn.
The men who live in marble and
bronze because they have done us
such service that we cannot forget
them, and would fain express our
gratitude by means of the seulptor's
art, are they who have borne the
brunt of circumstances
It is also true that personal sor.
rows, as the loss of dear ones, have
an uplifting tendency Bereavement
forces the soul to recognize its des-
tiny. Tears are sometimes telescopes
with which other worlds are viewed.
Aching hearts feel their helplessness
and then call on God for the comfort
that is not within reach. They see
visions, have revelations and doors
are opened the key to which is forged
out of some grief
The ties of earth are looseaed that
we may be bound by stronger cords
to heaven. The cruelty of death i'm
bues us with longing for immortal
ity. The surgeon cuts In order to
save the body and when it is all over
we bless the knife. God wounds
because the wounded soul needs SYM
pathy and consolation and can only
find them in thoughts of another life.
An artist had just finished splen-
did fresco on the ceiling of a cathe-
dral Pleased with his work, bestep-
ped back to note the general effect.
Fergetfal of the dizzy height, he was