The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-23

of memory lifted hands of benedic-
ton over his head. There he could
turn in the direction of his sons hope
and might take as sincere and sweet
pleasure in it in the consciousness
that the field of its fulfillment was, to
him, afar off, while to his son it
might seem near. 1t is said that the
venerable Bishop Berkeley was so en-
tirely contented with the diocese of
Cloyne that, when offered by the
Earl of Chesterfield bishopric much
more lucrative than that he had, he
declined it, with these words: II love
my neighbors and they love me; why,
then, should begin, in my old days,
to form new connections and tear my
self from those friends whose kind
ness is to me the greatest happiness
l enjoy" 1t is also related of Plu-
tarch that, being asked why he re-
sided in his native city, so little and
obscure, he replied 81 stay lest it
should grow less" With the APP
proach of evening the home sense is
emphasized on the lines of the heart.
The years domesticate us. Let us
say, it is well.
But, on the other hand, discomfort
| is a good and not an evil to youth.
In youth and mature manhood rise
the tides of hope and aspiration, and
these take the ships with treasures
for the world farther ashore. | do
not believe that George III. gave
good advice to the lad whom he is
said to have met in one of his morn
ing walks. swell, boy" the king
asked, "what do you dos What do
they pay you'" II help in the sta
ble," the boy replied, "but | have
nothing except victuals and clothes"
"Be content" said the king, 81 have
no more" He might have said it to
an old man who was fretting against
fate. He might have said it to mod
crate the desire of one that was chat
ing under the burdens that he must
carry, but not to boy with a reason
able ambition.
Had Abram been content to live
where and as his father lived his own
life and the fortunes of his nation
would have been less, and the spir-
itual fortunes of the whole Christian
world might have been less, for not
only back to him do the Hebrew peo-
pie look as to the father of the faith
full, but the Christian world may see
that the wilderness and the solitary
places were made glad for his COM
ing, in his desire for freedom and in
his brave steps to the land where he
would worship according to the die
tates of his conscience, and would
give to a nation the impulse of
new living faith which should create
sacred literature that has been the
enrichment of all ages.
Discomfort is better than content
when the latter would make us salts
fed without desire to do and to adj
vance our life and the worlds inter
ests. A legend tells of king and
queen who had son, and to whose
christening twelve fairies came with
gifts. There was given to him that
which made him strong, noble, beau
tiful and wise. The twelfth came
with discomfort The angry father
turned her away and would not per-
NIT the bestowal of this gift. The
lad was a wonder of power and grace
and lived in peace with all the world,
but did nothing, and the father saw
that he had caused the rejection of
the browning gift, the gift of discon-
tent.
We speak of the gift of discomfort,
and of the withholding of it, in the
language of legend only; in the lam
guage of philosophy, we would say,
that discomfort is providence-im-
posed state of mind, that it comes OF
necessity, in certain degree, at least,
and is the companion of imperfec-
tons, and is to help us attain good.
That man may change his condi-
ton for the better; that he, being i'm
perfect, may reach forth for the prize
of larger, freer. nobler life, it is or
dained that he shall not be satisfied,
perfectly satisfied, with his lot, his
abilities, or his achievements, when
life is before him and the world is
about him, and he may go forth and
live, conquer and possess. st is idle
to preach content to men" says Ly
man Abbott, who believes that man
shall not be content with time when
eternity is his heritage, or with earth
when heaven is above him and the
heart yearns for what the earth can