The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-12-02
BE CONTENT.
AND YET BE Discomfort.
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY "NEMO."

Copyrighted by Dave & Tabor.)
The wish of men to fly has neve
yet caused wings to bud, but the wisl
has been father to numberless thought
about free movement over the face o
the earth, and thus asses, camels, horses
and so forth have been broken to ou
use, and used until too slow for on
fastening spirits. From them we hav,
passed to steam, to electricity, to com
pressed air, and to other forms of pro
pulslon. Even the flying machine il
rapidly nearing a commercial possibili
ty. Better than the birds who fly, ye
needs must rest, our servants carry us
so that we skim the earth through
proxy efforts and eat or deep or trans
act business while being fitted from
place to place bv tireless machinery.
| But do not write this in order tc
minister to human pride; on the con
trary, it is to point moral for those
whose hearts somtimes feel like burst.
ing at being shut away in narrow
place. 1 know just how you feel eager
to do great things, sure that you could
do them if you had a chance, and yet
prevented by conditions that seem
cruel in themselves, and more cruel
when you see how they are hlndering
you. Have patience-at least for five
minutes-and let us draw little in
spiration from poor wingless man, who
being without powers OF flight and yet
desirous of such powers-learning that
longing for 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 linn
itation that has been set aside.
Apply this method to yourself, pin
ing and eager one. Mere longing for
different circumstances will never
bring them. Opportunities are not
forced by pulling wish-bones, nsr do
chances come by chiding fate. Since
you can not 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 un-
til you have done your all with it. The
most solemn spot in the world for you,
is the spot you stand on /; for it is your
resting place-not some one else's but
yours-lt Is your opportunity to show
what a man with limitations can do
and can dare. Transported suddenly
from where you are doing less than
your all-for that must be true if you
are ,grumbling and fuming7-to new
circumstances that seem ideal, you will
still find reasons for discomfort. But if
where you are, you make wholesome
blending of content and discomfort
content that you know your limitations
and discontented to the extent of fit
ting yourself for wider scope, the time
of fuller, more satisfactory life is practl
cally certain to come. The waiting
may be long, but even if long or the
change forever deferred, you will have
done we'll.
***
Overworked one, pressed with ankle
ties and harassed by those who ought
to, but do not seem to cooperate with
you, calm yourself. You are like
tangled kite, tearing yourself to pieces
in thlcket, instead of the eagle you
should be, soaring far above. You
know full we'll that the work you are
doing needs to de done that it is laid
upon you to do it and in your heart
you try to feel that the man and the
task will surely fit. Believe this with
your whole heart and little annoyances
will assume their proper size. In
YOUR calm moments you are thrilled
by the things you intend to accom-
pllsh during life multiply your calm
moments by sheer exercise OF Will and
your belief in your own purposes Will
carry you far above petty Interruptions.
You are In battle, fight it through.
Would you in such a place pay any
heed to nettles? When the smoke has
rolled away and the dust OF conflict
settled YOU shall stand triumphant be-
aeath the silent stars. All of life is
not the present harassed moment !;
there rem aineth an eventide for the
solace of those who toll and triumph.
At twenty-five, James Watt. who
aa transformed the world with steam,
heeqed for the benlgnlty OF death. SO
troubled was he, yet he came to be
tho sweetest, sunnlest old man you
could wish to meet.
~
Questioning one, do you complain
because God is mystery? Would you
have Him as visible as tree and as