Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-02-22
CHOICE EXCERPTS.

CHOICE EXCERPTS.
The least and most imperceptible i'm
pressiOnS received in our childhood may
have consequences very important anC
of long duration.
The authentic witnesses of any mans
character are those why know him in
his own family, and see him without
any restraint or rule of conduct, but
such as he voluntarily prescribes to him
self.
THE brightest use of friend is his
friendship, and in some respects friend
ly book is the very best of friends. Speech
is silver, silence is golden. A book is a
bi-metallic friend;it will give you either
silver speech or golden silence, as you
prefer.
| THE accumulation of wealth is fol
lowed by an increase of care, and by an
appetite for more. He who seeks for
much will ever be in want of much. 1t
is best with him to whom Providence
has given that which is sufficient, tn ough
every Superf1uity be withheld.
Do not forget that if you accomplish
little every day it will amount to a
good deal in year. If you pursue some
study, or read one hour every day in the
year, you will have acquired an amount
If knowledge in three hundred and six
'ytive days that will surprise you. Bear
this in mind now, early in the year, and
let nothing prevent you from taking ad-
vantage of it.
OF all the myths of the fairy age, of
its many legends and entertainments,
true love seems to be the one great
charm which has come down to us un-
changed by time, untouched by steam
engines, and unexplained by science
True love is true love by whatever signs
and language it is spoken-as long as
hearts beat, as long as life exists, in
whatever age, iron or golden, we must
seek it.
WEALTH is not necessary to enjoy the
beauties of a landscape; nor is it now
necessary to procure pleasures derived
from book. A small garden, even the
cherished plant in the window, is a
source of pleasure; and when the mind
is waiting to be pleased, the very 81 u ds
of life, rural or other, are each usi al
with joy. knowledge opens her sure
house for the winter evening, while pie
ty silvers all of earth with divine good
ness, striking vista through its deep
est sorrow to that world where the obe-
dent are filled with the fulness of Joy.
THE love that survives the tomb, says
Irving, is the nobest attribute of the
soul. If it has woes, it has likewise its
delights; and when the overwhelming
burst of grief is lulled into the gentle
tear of recollection, then the sudden
anguish and convulsive agony over the
present ruins of all we most loved are
softened away into penSive meditations
of all that it was in the days of its lowell
ness. Who would root such a sorrow
from the heart? Though it may some
times throw passing cloud over the
bright hour of gaiety, or spread deeper
sadness over the hours of gloom, yet
who would exchange it for the song of
pleasure or the burst of revelry? No;
there is voice from the tomb sweeter
than song; there is a remembrance of the
dead to which we turn even from the
charm of living
No one can say where comfort slides
into luxury. What seems like elysium
to one is commonplace to another, what |
one esteems daily necessity another
regards as a luxury not to be thought Of |
There is no precise standard to which |
we are bound to conform, no exact limit |
which we can censure our neighbors for
overstepping. But, though no iron rule
can be laid down in this matter, each |
one for himself or herself can and ought |
to decide how far to yield to the desire
for comfort. and where to resist it. Of |
course the first and most obvious tests
is how far we are able rightly to afford
it. To crafty it at the expense of hon
esty, to spend money for it when we do
not pay our debts, to minister to our
own comfort when those dependent
upon us are pinched or suffering these
are of all things the most despicable
Yet how mach of this is done, and how
eager is the attempt at Justification!
HAPPINESS is supposed to be some
hing dropped upon US or withheld, not
drawn to us by any attracting force or
will of our own. 1t is thought to be
easy enough to be happy when every
hing conspires to make one SO, and i'm
possible to help being unhappy in oppo-
ute circumstances. If this be so, while
men may be congratulated in the one
;ase, they are not to be commended;
md, while they may be commiserated in
he other case, they cannot be blamed.
There is no power, there can be no
;hOice, and no duty except to bow, with !
Is good grace as may be, to the DEGREES ,
If fate. Yet, If this were so. happiness /,
would always be in the exact ratio of
What are called favorable circumstances.
Wealth, with its various opportunities.
would always let in floods of unmingled
ielight, while their absence would al
Ways be attended with unmitigated
,lOom and sadness. We know that this
8 not so. Some at least on whom for
une seems to smile, are far less happy ,
han some on whom she only frOwns. I,