St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-12-03
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY ''NEMo."

yet caused wings TO Duu, put TIC
wish has been father to numberless
thoughts about free movement over
the face of the earth, and thus asses,
camels, horses, and so forth have
been broken to our use, and used
until too slow for our fastening
spirits. From them we have passed
to steam, to electricity, to COM
pressed air, and to other forms Of
propulsion. Even the flying ma
chine is rapidly nearing a CONNER
cial possibility. Better than the
birds who fly, yet needs must rest,
our servants carry us, so that we
skim the earth through proxy effort
and eat or sleep or transact business
while being fitted from place to place
by tireless machinery.
But do not write this in order to
minister to human pride; on the con-
trary. it is to point moral for those
whose hearts sometimes feel like
bursting at being shut away in a
narrow place. know just how you
feel; eager to do great things, sure
that you could do them il you had
chance. and yet prevented by condi-
tons that seem cruel in themselves,
and more cruel when you see how
they are hindering you. Have pa
tience-at least for five minutes-and
let us draw little inspiration from
poor wingless man. who being with
out powers of fight and yet DESTROYS
of such powers-learning that long
ing Tor the boon does not grant him
his wish, sets his brain to work. Its
results we know. Like the traveller
who scales cliff by turning this
way and that, the absence Of wings
is a limitation that has been set
aside.
Apply this method to yourself,
pining and eager one. Mere longing
for different circumstances will never
bring them. Opportunities are not
forced by pulling wish bones, nor do
chances come by chiding fate. Since
you cannot be in two places at once,
your place for the present is precisely
the place you are in, and if viewed
Alright you will be 10th to change it
until you have done your all with it.
The most solemn spot in the world
Tor you, is the spot you stand on
for it is your testing place-not some
one else's, but yUurs-it is your op-
portunity to show what man with
limitations can do and can dare.
Transported suddenly from where
you are doing lesss than your all
for that must be true if you are
grumblng and fuming-to new cir
cumstances that seem ideal, you will
still find reasons for discomfort. Blu,
ii where you are, you make whole
some blending of content and discon
tent-content that you know YOU
limitations and disconnected to tn,
extent OF fitting yourself for wide
scope, the time of fuller, more salts
factory life is practically certain t.
come. The waiting may be long
but even if long or the change 70
ever deferred, you will have done well
Overworked one, pressed wit
anxieties and harassed by those VIII,
ought to, but do not seem to coopet
ate with you, calm yourself. Yo
are like tangled kite, tearing your
self to pieces in thlcket, instead {
the eagle you should be, soaring ia
above. You know lull well that tn
work you are doing needs to be don,
that it is laid upon you to dolt; an
: 80, vour haart Won try IN foal thn. d, I
man and the task will surely fl
, Believe this with your whole hea
, and little annoyances will assun
their proper size. In your calm IN
= ments YOU are thrilled by the thin,
J you intend TO accomplish during l,i
. multiply your calm moments |
e sheer exercise OF will and your bel
0 in your own purposes will carry W
e lar above petty interruptions. Y,
!, are in battle, fight it throug
d Would you i'll such place pay al
8 heed to nettles? When the smo
!. has rolled away and the dust of CO
t flict settled you shall stand triu
r plant beneath the silent stars.
!, OF lite is not the present harass
moment; there remaineth an eve
I, tide Tor the solace of those who t
y and triumph. At twenty-five, Jan
- Watt. who has transformed I
world with steam, begged Tor I
u. benignity OF death, so troubled W
lie he, yet he came to be the sweete