The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-11-26
New York Herald. |

New York Herald.
! But strong, and quit yourselves like
men.-I Samuel. iv.. g
1t seems TO me that we need more
constan, encouragement in our relig
ious life. Religion is in itself the
most cheering thing in the world
and if any one takes gloomy view
of it he does both himself and his
religion an injustice. He who tells
Us that we can do everything that is
required is the angel over the right
| shoulder, and he who tells US that we
cannot is the imp over the lett shoul
der.
II 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
sometimes become disheartened.
Still, we once in awhile get a glimpse
of the reason for this. We know full
we'll from both observation and per-
sonal experience that if we were to
coast down hill all our lives, and if
there was no climbing up hill to be
done, we should be little better than
sleds which bear US. There might be
excite nent, but we should lose our
vigor and our health. The up hill
work is what makes the man. The
plan Of life therefore, has been SD ar
ranged 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 re-
minded of these facts, for he discovers
a, very early stage that harmful
habits may be contracted in a few
months which cannot be eliminated in
years. He must therefore become a
philosopher or he will be ultimately
ruined, for philosophy will teach him
that hard work, both in the way of en-
dnrance and Of resistance, is the only
condition on which he can chisel a
beautiful statute out Of the crude mar
BILE of experience. He may wonder
St ognze i the iatlh he, ,has hN' he 'wFeh
that has been done his feet are on the
first round of the ladder whose top
rests against the throne of God.
A good life, noble life, life worth
living and worthy the dignity and
destiny of the soul, is not to be had
for the asking. 1t must be earned or
not possessed at all. But when earned
and possessed it is as glorious as a
broad landscape lighted up by sun
| rise.
There is nothing on The planet SO
majestic as whole and perfect human
soul. The angels of Heaven who sang
their hallelujahs before the world was
are an inferior order of beings, be-
cause the perfection which is the re-
suit Of hardship and suffering is gran
der than the perfection with which
any of the immortals can be endowed.
| believe, therefore, that when we get
into the other life the man who has
endured and won the prize by his en-
durance will stand on 4 higher leve
than any other created creature, and
the soul that has borne the Ills o
time IN The spirit of the Master
will stand nearest TO the throne o
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 a!
God has spoken, however, He ha'
used the language OF encouragement
And the words Of Christ are full 0
pity for those who are down hearted
and Of good cheer for those who still
look toward the stars. Prayer II
simply the means Of borrowing
strength from the Most High, or al
expression of gratitude for what ha
already been received. In prayer ,h'
human heart comes into contact will
Gods will, and by law, the work
ing Of which is somewha, mysterious
because our minds are not yet optl
suCn contact results IN an accession O
, ability ~hich is palpable TO those VIII
have availed themselves Of bis prlyil
ege.
Whomever you may he, whateve
station of life you may occupy, how
ever adverse may be your surround
!, ings, you can earn rIgh, to God
approval. Not every one can hav
riches, because riches depend iargel
on laws which man has made, bu
every one can have Heaven. The pres
ent time is short, but the future
= long. To-day you must work, but d
your work we'll and Tomorrow you
s.. toll will be rewarded.
Possibly you may be suffering tn
pinching pangs of poverty. Env
| creeps into the heart as you recoe
< nize that others are surrounded b
luxuries as well as comforts, and env
is knife driven into the maple tre
4 which lets the sap run out. We we,
;, not made TO be wealthy, but TO /
c noble. Wealth is an incident in som
e lives and not in others, but nobili,
o may be had by all. The riches, al
not the happiest, for happiness CONF
from the soul, not from the pobke
st book. The sultan may wear crow
10 % but he is wretched; the peasant WI
l. digs his field food TO cat has mo
''Se enjoyment and more content. n
t. outside, but inside, is peace to
q found.
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