Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-12-25
You Nav Be a Victor.

Oho I'd hCo d SIOOuy view Vi III lie uOeS
both himself and his religion and an
injustice. He who tells us that we can
do every thing that is required is the
angel over the right shoulder, and he
who tells us that we cannot is the imp
over the left shoulder.
IL is not easily explained, perhaps,
but the fact stares US in the face that
it is much easier to coast down hill than
to Draw the sled up hill, and we some
times become disheartened.
Still, we once in awhile get glimpse
of the reason for this. We know full
we'll from both observation and per-
sonal experience that il we were to
coast down hill all our lives, and if there
were no climbing up hill to be done, we
should be little better than the sleds
which bear Us. There might be excite
ment, but we should lose our yigor and
our health. The up hill work is what
makes the man. The plan of life, there
fore, has been, so arranged that no one
can have the short pleasure of coasting
down hill without the long labor Of
dragging his sled up hill
A youth must be continually remind
ed of these facts, for he discovers at a
very early stage that harmful habits
may be contracted in a few months
which cannot be eliminated in wears.
He must therefore become a philoso-
pher or he will be ultimately ruined.
for philosophy will teach him that hard
work, both in the way of endurance
and OF resistance, is the only condition
on which he can chisel a beautiful
statue out of the crude marble of ex-
perlence. He may wonder why it
should be so, but he must recognize the
fact that it is so. When that has been
done his feet are on the first round of
the ladder whose top rests against the
throne of God.
4 good life, a noble life, a life worth
living and worthy the dignity and des
tiny of+the soul, is not to be had for the
asking. 1t musb.be earned or not DOS
sessed at all. But when earned and
possessed it is as glorious as a broad
landscape lighted up by sunrise.
There is nothing on the planet so
majestic as a whole and perfect human
soul. The angels of heaven who sang
their hallelujahs before the world was
are an inferior order of beings. because
the perfection which is the result of
hardship and suffering is grander than
the perfection with which any of the
lmmortals can be endowed. | believe.
therefore, that when we get into the
other life the man who has endured
and won the prize by his endurance
will stand on higher level than any
other created creature, and the soul
that has borne the ills of time in the
spirit OF the Master will stand nearest
to the throne of God.
But it is not easy to endure The
school of life is a school of discipline,
and many fall by the way. So far as
God has spoken, however. He has used
the language of encouragement. And
the words of Christ are full of pity for
those who are down hearted, and of
good cheer for those who still look to-
ward the stars. Prayer is simply the
means of borrowing strength from the
Most High, or an expression of graft
tude for what has already been receiv
ed. In prayer the human heart comes
into contact with Gods will, and by a
law, the working of which is somewhat
mysterious, because our minds are not
yet open, such contact results in an ac,
cession of ability which is palpabie to
those who have awaited themselves of
this privilege.
Whoever you may be, whatever sta
ton of life you may occupy, however
adverse may be your surroundings. YOU
can earn right to Gods approval
Not every one can have riches, because
riches depend largely on laws which
lnan has made, but every one can have
heaven. The present time is short, but
the future is long. To day you must
work. but do your work well and to-
MORO W your toll will be rewarded.
POSSIBLY you may be suffering the
pinching pangs Of poverty. Envy
creeps into the heart as you recognize
that others are surrounded by Injuries
as well as comforts, and envy is knife
driven into the maple tree which lets
the sap run out. We are not made to
be wealthy, but to be noble Wealth
Is an incident in some lives and not in
others, but nobility may be had by all.
The richest are not the happiest, for
happiness comes from the soul, not
from the pocketbook. The Sultan may
wear a crown, but he is wretched; the
peasant who digs his field for food to
eat has more enjoyment and more con-
tent. Not outside, but inside, is peace
to be found.
Or possibly you have fallen on evil
ways and habit has made you a slave.
God knows you have hard stint to do
before shutdown, but you are a man and
can do it. An immortal soul CONQUER
ed by habit is a sorry spectacle:
king dragged at the chariot tail is a
strange humiliation. But victory NAV
yet be wrested from defeat. You and
God can do great things together.
When you and the angels put shoulders
to the wheel it can be lifted out of the
mire. Recall the forgotten fact that
you are man, blow a blast on the
trumpet of defiance, issue the proclama.
ton OF your own freedom, and do brave
battle with yourself. The hosts of the
skies are on yonr side, and though the
struggle will tax your whole strength,
begin it now. and keep it up till YOU
have conquered every intrenched ten
dency to evil. I somehow think that
he who has been lowest in this world
and fought his way to manhood
through legions of devils will stand
highest in the time to come, for did not
Christ say, MANY that are last shall
be first %
Religion is another word for irriga-
ton. The arid fields, overlooked bv
the vivifying stream, spring into fruit
fulness, and souls parched with barren
ness when touched by the spirit of God
may bring forth harvest that shall be