The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-01-28
MORAL MUSINGS.
A WORD TO ALL.
Some Rambling Thoughts.
BY "NEMO."
(Copyrighted.)

rangements with the author for their
exclusive publication.)
ministers and all teachers OF young
or old to all lovers of their kind and
servants OF ldeals to all who believe in
the progress of the race and spend them
selves to attain it; to host OF earnest
souls more numerous than the sands
in an Hour glass, andas lacking in CO.
hesion; to such I write this week.
Bend down your thoughts to these low
ly lines and rise, mayhap, with broad
or purpose than can even dare sketch.
Where ten hundred hearts among
you now beat high with pure and noble
purpose nine hundred odd alone will
live..to greet the new century. You,
who are doomed to die by the way as
we moye onward to a new age, what
benison will you confer upon the war
riors for good that are ordained to fight
later battles? You, whose eyes shall
see the dawn OF 1901, what is to be your
grandest preparation for your children
and children's children as to the new
problems of the hundred years to come?
Generosity of mind; the surrendering
OF mutual suspicious.
Often, as a child, have disturbed an
ant-hill to watch each little creature go
to its task, some to the defense and
others to the removal OF eggs and debris.
But when l look out upon the wide
world, humanity seems far less wise.
Men and women of most pure inten-
tions scramble over one another's duties,
get in one another's way, and object to
many things being done at all unless
they are done in a certain set manner
or by themselves. Because we are apt
to doubt the purity of others motives,
some of the finest and most uplifting
souls in the world are hindered in their
work and are almost compelled to turn
aside to utilities and vexations. Be-
cause we do not encourage them with
intelligent sympathy they spend life in
dream of causeless warfare, and awake
to find opportunity gone, wasted. 1
should say then the mightiest prepara-
ton tor the new age that is coming
will be for those who strive to serve
! God and their race, to acknowledge with
humility that there are more ways than
one of reaching that end. The moral
at the end of the old poem ''The Night
lngale and the Glow-worm" Is very
apt -
"Hence jarring sectaries may learn
| Their true interests to discern.
Brother should not war with brother
And worry and devour each other,
| But sing and shine with sweet consent,
| Tillllfe's poor transient night isspent /;
! Respecting in each others case
The gifts of nature and of grace"
Men do not cultivate rice On noun
tain tops. The agriculture of region
is suited by the wise ones to its soil and
ITS climate; and he who seeks to grow
Alpine plants in the tropics is doomed
to failure.
The ocean has many ports, and ships
there are that traverse it in every direc
ton. TO turn all prows the same way
would stagnate commerce.
The land has its beasts, the air it,
birds, the sea its fishes, and all live ane
; move and have their being as fitting
part OF great world of life. A thou
sand and one things around us show
that there is tremendous diversity II
nature and that its work is best carriet
} on bv those best suited to the work
So, when we see various ways OF trying
; to benefit our race, ways hat are a
surprising to us as alligator farming
would be to an Esquimau before W
rise to condemn our fellow workers II
very wide and diversified universe
e we should do well to remember that W
do not know everything, nor Is any ON
80 versatile as to be able to suit himse
ri to the needs and the heart-aches al
v agonies of every other soul.
IL You religious people, servants OF tn
t Prince of Peace, partakers of his spiri
/ why are there jealousies among you
- Why ask everybody to believe as yo
4 believe or see with your eyes? Fac
N moment you spend in anxious effort
OF bring it to pass that your sect or yo'
. way shall be supreme, straightway yt
in bury your talent. In the years tn
n YOU waste squabbling over 'isms al
as 'ologies there are those multiplying
nd numbers who care no more for 20
us God than they care for the reput
~ ~ rings of Saturn and whose belief In
, !" actual influence of either upon earth