The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20

no place like the city where ishe had for
merly lived; it was her Eldorado. But what
did she do? Just settled happily down in
that narrow sphere and made that home
the most attractive little nest in the world.
Everybody noticed the bright cheerfulness
of that woman's life She made herself in
dispensable to every one in the village.
She held a place in the hearts of those
people nobody else could secure. Not only
this, but she held place socially in her
country home which she probably never
could have obtained in the great city. In
the end she came to realize this.
On the day of that womans burial the
whole village was in mourning. II her fun
eral had occurred in Chicago or New York,
not single store would have been closed.
No church bells would have tolled their sad
requiem as her body was borne to it's rest.
The great business thoroughfares would
have been just as restless as ever. But how
different in that quiet town far from the
city, Honey in the carcass of the lion.
But there is another item which comes
under the head of surroundings, and that
is our work. We think. perhaps, that We
are not made for such work Well. just
now at least, this kind Of work seems made
for US and will there not be more honey
will there not be more honey in doing it
as well and as cheerfully as we can, than
in doing it grudgingly looking about for
some easy way to get around it?
This continued stitching and hammering
and saving is anything but inspiring, of
course To be jolted seventy-ave miles in
one direction only to come rafting back
again, every day in the year, brings little
faScina fiOO to tho train hand aftaP he naU
is off, The perpetual scratching of the pen
is wearing to the nerves of the clerk. The
close atmosphere of the mill and the fac
tory is depressing and the labor monoton-
Gus. Where is the trained nurse to get any
sunshine? And what flower committee will
place pinks and roses in the cheeks of
Mattresses growing paler every day? All
If the work is hard and combining, and I'M
congenial, do we stop to reflect what a
blessed thing that we have work? Do we
notice the army of the unemployed eager
to take our burdens-and our pay? And so
we find a crumb of comfort even in the
fact that we are employed at all, though
our labor be hard and grinding. And we
shall discover unexpected honey even here,
if we but go about it in the right spirit.
And speaking of surroundings, possibly
you think you have no surroundings. Per-
haps you have been cramped, and squeezed
ard held down all your life till it seems to
you that If the heavy hand which is upon
you were lifted, you would bound up into
the atmosphere like a balloon and never
return; but you cannot get away. Was not
that just the trouble with our little sprig
of checkerberry in the cleft of the rock?
Nevertheless. there were plums there.
And, now, is there not another thought 4?
May there not be danger that we shall
make a speciality of honey? In this nara
tive the honey was a secondary considera-
ton. 1t was a very convenient and pleas
ant consideration, TO be sure, but the real
satisfaction had come some time before
when this lion had sprung into the path
way and Samson had bravely faced the
situation. The main point with our hero
was to kill the lion, and the honey that he
found at later day was an unexpected re-
ward.
There are situations as difficult for us
all to face every week, which require more
heroism than Samson exhibited. The reso-
luton to squarely meet them whatever the
outcome. will alone carry through. The
real love of virtue is the only thing which
can keep us always loyal to virtue No
doubt the soldiers of Joan of Arc bore
HcdNS buAdSlS SIMPLY lOT 4leI SAKE ana
felt richly repaid, Temptations stand be-
fore us at times which it would seem al
most foretaste of heaven to yield to only
for once. The man or woman who does
yield has never known the rich reward of
flint-like unyielding-the strength gained
the satisfaction of overcoming" That was
a sublime spectacle when Samson arose in
the power of his injured innocence and
avenged himself on those cowardly Phil
listines Little cared he then whether he
fought one man or hundred. They were
in the wrong and he was in the right, He
had rather die himself than to live subject
to their tyranny, and he few at them right
and left until one thousand of them bit the
dust. o, the honest pride that filled his
heart on that eventful day.
But there came another day. A day when
he listened TO the voice of pleasure and
dallied with temptation; then quickly fol-
lowed surrender, and then ruin, and the
bitterness oAa lost estate. o, Samson,
wherein lies the sweetest sweet-the best
reward?
Let US boldly STAY the lions in our path
and we shall presently find honey there.
Let US overcome the sins and trials that
beset US. and rewards unexpected shall be
ours.