The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1896-01-24
YOU MAY BE A VICTORY

YOU MAY BE A VICTORY.
New York Herald.
BE strong. and quit yourselves like men,
|. Samuel, iv., ..
1t seems to me that we need a more
constant encouragement in our re-
ligiouS 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 anything 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.
IT. is not easily explained, perhaps,
but the fact Starcs us in the face that
it is much easier to coast down hill
than to draw the sled up hill, and we
sometimes become dishcartcned.
Still, we once IN awhile get a glimpse
of the reason for this. We know full
well from both observation and per-
soma! experience that if we were Ia
coast down hill all our lives, and il
there were no climbing up hill to be
done, we should be little better than
the sleds which bear us. There might
be excitement, but we should lose Uul
yigor and our health. The up hill
work is what makes the man. The
plan of life, therefore, has been so
arranged that no one can have the
short pleasure Of c0asting down hill
without the long labor Of dragging his
Sled up hill.
a youth must be continually re-
minded of these facts, for lie discovers
at Il very early stage that harmful
habits may be contracted ia Il few
months which cannot be eliminated
IN years. He must therefore become Il
philosopher or lie will he 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 chiscl
a beautiful statue out Of the crude
marble OF experience. He may wonder
why it should be so, but he must re-
cugnizc 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.
A good life, a noble life, a life worth
living and worthy the dignity and
destiny Of the soul, is not to be had
for the asking. 1t must be earned 0l
not possessed at all. But when earned
and possessed it is as glorious as
broad landscape lighted up by sun
rise.
There is nothing on the planet SC
majestic as Il whole and perfect hu.
man soul. The angels OF heaycn who
sang their hallclujahs 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 will
which any Of the immortals can b(
endowed. | believe, therefore, that
when we get into the other life tho
man who has endured and won The
prize by his endurance will stand on
higher level than any other created
crea. urc, and the soul that has borne
the ills OF time in the spirit OF th'
Master will stand nearest to the throne
of God.
But it is not easy to endure. Th'
school of life is q school Of discipline
and many fall by the way. So far a:
God has spoken, however, He has uscf
the language of encouragement. An(
the words of Christ are full OF pity f0
those who are down hearted, and o
good cheer for those who still l0ol
toward the stars. Prayer is slmpl!
the means of borrowing strength from
the Most High, or an expression Q
gratitude for what has already beef
received. In prayer the human hear
comes into contact with Gods will
and by law, the working of which i
somewhat MYSTERIOUS, because ou
minds are not yet open, such con
tract results In an accession Of abilit
which is palpable to those who hav
availed themselves of this privilege.
Whomeyer you may be, whatcve
station Of life you may occupy, now
ever adverse may be your surround
ings, you can earn right TO Gods ar
proval. Not every one can lave richie,
because riches depend largely on law
which man has made, but every on
can have heaven. The pres( Int time
short, but the future is lonN To-da
you must work but do YOUR wor
well and tomorrow your ton will b
rewarded.
Possibly you may be sun firing th